Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi today unleashed a scathing attack on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, asserting that recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids unequivocally confirm the rampant existence of illegal coal mining operations within the state. Gogoi, addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters in Delhi, presented the ED’s actions as irrefutable proof, directly contradicting earlier denials by the Chief Minister.
Gogoi elaborated on the ED’s extensive operations, revealing that on April 24, the agency conducted simultaneous raids across multiple locations in both Assam and Meghalaya3 These raids, he highlighted, were a direct consequence of an ongoing investigation into a deeply entrenched illegal coal syndicate. The searches yielded significant seizures, including cash amounting to ₹1.58 crore, various digital devices, and two high-end vehicles, underscoring the scale of the illicit network.
“This revelation,” Gogoi emphatically stated, “proves the Assam Chief Minister wrong, as the ED has explicitly alleged the existence of a coal syndicate in Assam and Meghalaya.” He further questioned the scope of the ongoing investigation, asking whether it would be curtailed merely at the recovery of ₹1.58 crore. Gogoi expressed deep concern over the lack of decisive action from both the State and Central governments, warning that such a pervasive coal syndicate poses a grave threat to the economy, ecology, and societal fabric of the entire Northeast region.
Calling for immediate and comprehensive action, Gogoi unequivocally demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter. He alleged that the brazen operation of such an extensive coal syndicate would be impossible without substantial political protection from both state and central authorities, reiterating his demand for a thorough investigation by the central agency.