Akhil Gogoi stages dharna in Guwahati, seeks Rs 10 lakh flood compensation

Raijor Dal president and MLA Akhil Gogoi staged a day-long dharna in Guwahati on Thursday, demanding adequate compensation and relief for flood-affected families in three Assam districts.

Gogoi initially began a hunger strike outside the state secretariat but was removed from the spot by police. He later shifted his protest to the Ministers’ Colony, where he staged a dharna for around an hour under an overbridge near the entrance gate. He subsequently continued his hunger strike at the Ganesh Mandir premises in Ganeshguri, Dispur.

Gogoi declared September 17, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, a “black day” for Assam and alleged that the Prime Minister had not enquired about the flood situation during what he described as the state’s “biggest deluge”.

He also alleged that Assam had received no central assistance, including essential supplies such as rice, dal and tarpaulins, while immediate aid had been announced for flood-related situations in Bihar and Gujarat.

Gogoi demanded immediate assistance of Rs 25,000 per family and compensation of Rs 10 lakh per family for flood victims in Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat.

He further sought the removal of Water Resources Minister Sushanta Borgohain from the state Cabinet and a CBI investigation into what he termed the “man-made deluge” of July 19.

Gogoi alleged that illegal coal and stone mining in Nagaland, allegedly carried out with the patronage of three BJP MLAs, had damaged embankments along the Dikhow river and contributed to flooding that affected more than two lakh families across the three districts.

He also claimed that the government had not fully delivered promised relief of Rs 15,000, with 30–40 per cent of families yet to receive the assistance. He alleged that the promised Rs 10,000 assistance for families in Sivasagar and Charaideo had not been disbursed to any family.

According to Gogoi, the assessment of flood-related damage for compensation was also progressing slowly.

At least 108 people have died in this year’s floods, while public infrastructure, homes, cattle sheds and fisheries have also suffered damage in the affected districts.

with inputs from PTI