Sivasagar/Guwahati: Assam Congress president-designate Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led state government, accusing them of being solely consumed by “power, money, land, and syndicate” interests. His strong remarks came as he kicked off a 250-km procession from Sivasagar to Nagaon, accompanied by thousands of supporters, with the cavalcade set to traverse Jorhat and Golaghat before reaching central Assam by evening.
Gogoi specifically highlighted the devastating floods and widespread waterlogging that have crippled life in the state capital, Guwahati, asserting that these dire conditions are a direct consequence of ministers and individuals close to the ruling party encroaching upon wetlands. “This government is deeply rooted in power, money, land grabbing and syndicate. Unplanned construction, land grab and contractor-specific flyover have taken priority over the needs of the ordinary people of Guwahati,” he told reporters after visiting the historic Siva Doul temple in Sivasagar town.
The capital city’s residents woke up to a harrowing situation on Friday following heavy rains that inundated almost all peripheral roads and several residential areas. Incessant downpours for two days since then led to knee-deep water in many areas, with some places experiencing chest-deep inundation. “Greed for money and land is driving the BJP policy in Guwahati. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma was the Guwahati Development Minister for a long time. Now, his close associate is the minister. But BJP ministers care more about the road to their own house than preserving water bodies and building drainage systems,” Gogoi asserted, referring to Housing and Urban Affairs minister Jayanta Malla Baruah’s house near the Bondajan channel, a portion of which is reportedly encroached for a concrete road.
The Deputy Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha vowed to expose all corruption across the state, stating, “We will expose all corruption across the state one by one. The huge corruption in various departments of Guwahati development will also be exposed in the coming days.” Gogoi also touched upon the recent panchayat elections, acknowledging that all opposition parties, including the Congress, performed below expectations. He emphasised the need for individual performance reviews and stressed strengthening the Congress to bolster the opposition front, citing its position as the most powerful among the opposition parties.
Earlier in the day, Gogoi engaged with senior citizens in Sivasagar, discussing various issues. He then paid tributes to freedom movement martyr Piyoli Phukan and offered prayers at Siva Doul before leading a massive march from the Doul to Rang Ghar Chariali, subsequently commencing his inter-district procession. A Congress spokesperson confirmed that Gogoi will cover 18 assembly constituencies in Jorhat, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Golaghat, and Nagaon districts from Saturday to Monday, reaching Nagaon late on Sunday night for an overnight halt.
Gogoi, who arrived in Jorhat on Saturday, received a warm welcome at the airport from Leader of the Opposition in Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia, senior party leaders, and numerous Congress supporters. On Monday, the newly appointed Assam Congress chief is scheduled to meet party workers in Nagaon before heading to Guwahati to the party headquarters. He is slated to meet party workers on Tuesday and officially assume charge as the president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee. Gogoi’s appointment comes as he replaces Bhupen Kumar Borah and will lead the party into state elections, facing ongoing attacks from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma regarding his British wife’s alleged connection with Pakistan’s spy agency ISI.
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