Guwahati, August 13 — Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has made a significant claim, asserting that the late Congress Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi once contemplated legal action against Meghalaya, blaming deforestation in the neighboring state for causing floods in Guwahati. Sarma’s remarks have sparked controversy, especially with his comments linking the situation to the ongoing debate over the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM).
Speaking to the media, Sarma revealed that Gogoi had repeatedly expressed concerns during his tenure about the role of Jorabat, a region on the Assam-Meghalaya border, in exacerbating Guwahati’s flood problems. According to Sarma, Gogoi believed that deforestation in the hills of Meghalaya was a primary contributor to the flooding, and he even considered taking legal steps against the state.
“When I mentioned USTM, there was an uproar,” Sarma said. “But Tarun Gogoi had already said this, and I have documents to prove it. He believed that Jorabat was the main cause of floods in Guwahati. Now, Congress is criticizing me, and Gogoi’s son is also attacking me for mentioning USTM. But if his son disagrees with what his father said, what can I do? From 2005 to 2014, I have collected 25 press cuttings where Gogoi expressed these views.”
Sarma also took the opportunity to criticize the Congress party for allegedly responding based on the religious identity of USTM’s ownership. He accused the party of remaining silent if the university’s owner were Hindu and claimed that Congress was politicizing the flood issue due to the institution’s Muslim ownership.
“The Congress is only making noise because the USTM owner is Muslim,” Sarma alleged. He further accused the party of attempting to “rescue” the university by making it a communal issue.
Sarma’s comments have further polarized the political discourse in Assam, with many questioning the implications of his statements. As the debate over flood management and communal politics continues, the controversy is expected to gain more attention in the coming days.