Guwahati, Assam: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge today launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi-led central government, accusing it of neglecting the devastating flood crisis gripping the northeastern states. Kharge demanded immediate financial assistance and greater transparency in the utilisation of relief funds, as Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh reel under widespread devastation caused by incessant rains and rising river levels.
Kharge highlighted the immense suffering across the region, noting that lakhs of people have been affected and numerous lives lost. He expressed his heartbreak over the visuals emerging from the worst-hit states, including Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
Taking a sharp dig at the BJP, Kharge reminded the public of Prime Minister Modi’s 2016 pledge to make Assam flood-free, a promise reiterated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in 2022. He questioned the effectiveness of the “double-engine” government, pointing to the grim situation in what he termed “SMART CITY” Guwahati.
The Congress chief further alleged that the BJP government has consistently shifted focus away from core developmental issues towards “emotive and polarising subjects.” He urged the Centre to prioritise the needs of the flood-affected region.
Kharge specifically called for the immediate release of more central funds for relief and preparedness efforts. He also urged the Prime Minister to tap into the PM CARES Fund, which he claimed holds crores of rupees without proper public audit.
While Kharge appealed to Congress leaders and workers to amplify their on-ground relief efforts, the flood situation continues to remain critical across the northeast. In Assam alone, at least ten lives have been claimed, and over four lakh residents across 20 districts are impacted. Authorities fear a worsening situation in low-lying and riverbank areas as seven major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, continue to flow above danger levels, compounded by persistent rainfall in the state and adjoining regions. Rescue and relief operations by SDRF, NDRF, and Army units are ongoing, but damaged access routes and continuous rainfall pose significant challenges in reaching remote areas.