Guwahati, 7th July: Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader of the Indian National Congress in the Lok Sabha, has condemned Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent comments on Assam’s flood situation, arguing they demonstrate a lack of understanding and sincerity about the severity of the disaster.
In a strongly-worded statement posted on ‘X’, Gaurav Gogoi highlighted the devastating impact of the floods in Assam, which have claimed over 70 lives, and criticized Amit Shah’s description of the situation as merely a “flood-like situation.” Gogoi expressed disappointment over what he perceives as Shah’s inadequate response to the crisis.
“The statement of Minister of Home Affairs Shri Amit Shah regarding the tragedy in Assam shows a lack of knowledge and sincerity. More than 70 people have died due to the floods yet the Minister chooses to describe the current disaster as a flood-like situation,” Gogoi wrote, pointing out the gravity of the situation.
Gogoi further criticized Shah’s past handling of flood-related issues in Assam, arguing that Shah’s statements reveal the BJP government’s failure to effectively assist Northeastern states in addressing the impacts of climate change.
Shah’s remarks came after heavy rains exacerbated the flood situation in Assam. In his post on ‘X’, Shah assured that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were actively engaged in relief operations. “On account of the heavy rains, a flood-like situation has occurred in Assam. Spoke with Assam CM Shri @himantabiswaJi about the ongoing situation. The NDRF and the SDRF are working on a war footing, providing relief and rescuing the victims. PM Shri @narendramodiJi stands firmly with the people of Assam and is committed to providing all possible assistance to the state in these challenging times,” Shah stated.
The severe floods in Assam over the past month have resulted in significant loss of life and property. Over 2.42 million people across 30 districts have been affected, with the worst-hit district being Dhubri, where 775,721 people have been impacted. The floods have submerged 63,490.97 hectares of agricultural land and affected 3,518 villages across 112 revenue circles. Additionally, at least 92 animals have died due to the flooding.
The disaster has led to extensive damage to infrastructure, road closures, crop destruction, and livestock loss, leaving hundreds of people homeless and displaced. Gogoi’s critique underscores the need for a more effective and empathetic response from the central government to address the ongoing crisis in Assam.