Assam floods: Akhil Gogoi demands removal of Guardian Minister over relief
Guwahati, Aug 7 (IANS) Raijor Dal President and MLA Akhil Gogoi on Friday demanded the removal of Assam Minister Bimal Borah as the Guardian Minister of Sivasagar, alleging widespread irregularities and political favouritism in the distribution of flood relief in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts.
Speaking to reporters here, Gogoi claimed that the relief exercise had been marred by discrimination, with several genuine flood-affected families allegedly excluded from government assistance while many ineligible beneficiaries received relief.
He alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders remained absent during the initial days of the floods when local residents were struggling with the crisis.
According to Gogoi, Raijor Dal workers were actively engaged in rescue and relief efforts at that stage, while BJP functionaries joined relief operations only after these activities began attracting public attention.
The Raijor Dal leader also accused Minister Bimal Borah of allowing relief materials to be distributed through BJP workers and party-affiliated ward members instead of following a transparent and impartial process.
Gogoi also alleged that a BJP ward member misappropriated relief supplies meant for flood victims.
He claimed that despite local residents exposing the alleged irregularity, no action was initiated against the accused.
Instead, he alleged, the individual who highlighted the matter was arrested.
Questioning the implementation of the state’s flood relief programme, Gogoi alleged that political considerations had influenced the selection of beneficiaries in Sivasagar and Charaideo.
He claimed that many deserving families had not received the Rs 15,000 financial assistance announced by the Assam government for flood-affected households.
Maintaining that similar complaints had surfaced from several other flood-hit districts, Gogoi urged Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to ensure that beneficiary lists are prepared by neutral authorities, including village headmen, ward members or government officials, instead of political party workers.
Holding Minister Bimal Borah directly responsible for the alleged lapses in Sivasagar and Charaideo, the Raijor Dal President demanded his immediate removal as guardian minister and called on the state government to conduct a transparent and impartial distribution of flood relief among all eligible beneficiaries.
–IANS
tdr/khz