Sivasagar: In a significant development, Raijor Dal President Akhil Gogoi today extended his warm felicitations to Gaurav Gogoi on his recent elevation as the President of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC). Speaking at a press conference held in Sivasagar, Akhil Gogoi, known for his fiery oratory, also made a compelling case for a unified opposition front to effectively counter the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming 2026 assembly elections.
“We heartily congratulate Gaurav Gogoi on his new role. For the BJP to face defeat in 2026, it is imperative that all opposition parties come together on a common platform,” Gogoi asserted. He further proposed a firm deadline of May 30 for all involved parties to finalise discussions regarding a potential Congress-Raijor Dal alliance, underscoring the urgency of the matter.
Responding to the recent accusations levelled by the BJP against Gaurav Gogoi, pertaining to an alleged visit to Pakistan and his wife’s purported links to the neighbouring country, Akhil Gogoi challenged the government to take concrete action if any credible evidence exists. “If there are indeed any Pakistani links, the government must initiate legal proceedings without delay. We have the Prime Minister, the Home Ministry, the External Affairs Ministry, and the Assam Police – why have they not acted yet? If not, these allegations are nothing more than political propaganda, akin to the politicisation of the Bangladeshi issue in Assam,” he stated, dismissing the claims as baseless and politically motivated.
Addressing the recent arrest of youth leader Shankar Baruah in connection with the Duliajan incident, Akhil Gogoi strongly criticised the manner in which the arrest was carried out. “He is an indigenous youth. The use of handcuffs was completely unnecessary and unwarranted. Under the BJP’s regime, indigenous youths are being harassed by outsiders,” he said, expressing his displeasure. Gogoi also urged Baruah to steer clear of avoidable controversies, reminding him that he had previously distanced himself from the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) due to a separate controversy. He cautioned that repeated involvement in such matters could potentially jeopardise his burgeoning political career.
Taking a firm stance on the contentious issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, Akhil Gogoi squarely accused the BJP-led government of inaction. “The number of deportations has been the lowest under the BJP rule. Deportation should certainly take place, but it must be done without exploiting the issue for narrow political gains,” he emphasised. Dismissing the BJP’s assertions that the Congress’s choice of Gaurav Gogoi as APCC chief indicates a ‘pro-Pakistan’ stance, Gogoi concluded by stating, “These remarks are entirely baseless and are clearly driven by political desperation.”
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