Raijor Dal president and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi has launched a fierce broadside against the Assam government, directly targeting Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah over a slew of recent corruption allegations and contentious remarks.
In a strong indictment, Gogoi accused Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah of past involvement in financial irregularities during the previous Congress administration. “He himself has admitted to involvement in scams. He must be dismissed from the Cabinet and put behind bars,” Gogoi declared, further asserting that a nexus of ministers, spanning both Congress and BJP regimes, has consistently engaged in syndicates and misappropriated public funds. He sharply questioned the Chief Minister’s apparent inaction on these alleged malpractices.
Expressing profound dismay, Gogoi lambasted Chief Minister Sarma’s recent comments concerning journalists. “Reporters do not cover stories for Rs 100, they carry the weight of local truth. The Chief Minister has insulted the entire journalist community,” Gogoi stated. Drawing a parallel, he accused Minister Baruah of demonstrating similar disrespect and called upon the Chief Minister to issue a public apology to journalists across Assam.
Shifting his focus to his own constituency, Gogoi demanded a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for each family impacted by the ongoing operations of ONGC in Bhotiyapara, Sivasagar. “For years, my people have borne the burden of pollution, displacement, and suffering. The time for compensation is now,” he asserted, highlighting the long-standing grievances of the locals.
Gogoi further criticised the government’s alleged preferential treatment towards corporate giants. “Industrialists like Adani and Ambani are showered with subsidies while the poor are abandoned. Be it BJP or Congress, corruption continues under new banners. The system remains rigged against the common man,” he charged, painting a bleak picture of the state’s socio-economic landscape.
Regarding the upcoming 2026 elections, Gogoi underscored the need for discretion in alliance discussions, stating that such deliberations must remain private and strategic. “These decisions should be finalised behind closed doors. Political maturity demands discretion,” he emphasised, hinting at the necessity for a cohesive opposition front.
Gogoi also raised questions about the timing and true intent behind Chief Minister Sarma’s recently released book, Emergency Diaries. “While he reflects on past emergencies, he fails to acknowledge the emergency-like oppression people are experiencing today—religious polarisation, systemic corruption, and silencing of dissent,” Gogoi contended, suggesting a disconnect between the Chief Minister’s narrative and the present reality.
Finally, Gogoi strongly condemned the Chief Minister’s recent suggestion to remove ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ from the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. “Such a move is a direct threat to the core values of our republic. The BJP and RSS are steering India toward a religious state—this is dangerous. Our Constitution ensures justice and equality for all. We will not allow India to be turned into another Pakistan or Afghanistan,” he declared, asserting a resolute stance against any such constitutional amendments.
In conclusion, Gogoi urged the BJP-led government to uphold the Constitution, respect the journalistic fraternity, provide due compensation to affected communities, and govern in favour of the populace rather than powerful entities. “Accountability must replace arrogance. Secularism must outshine sectarianism,” he concluded, reiterating his party’s commitment to these principles.