Assam Legislator Akhil Gogoi Ends Hunger Strike After Talks on Flood Relief

Guwahati, October 15 (Daily Kiran) : Akhil Gogoi, the leader of the Raijor Dal and an Assam legislator, has ended his indefinite hunger strike following discussions with state ministers Piyush Hazarika and Keshav Mahanta. This decision was made on Thursday after they addressed his concerns regarding adequate relief and compensation for families affected by recent floods.

During their visit to the protest site, the ministers engaged with Gogoi, who has been advocating for better support for flood victims across Assam. Although the meeting led to the suspension of his protest, details about the discussions and any firm commitments from the government remain unclear.

Gogoi initiated his hunger strike on October 2, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti. His primary demand was for full compensation for families impacted by the floods and action on various flood-related issues in the state. He stated that he would cease his protest only if the government assured compensation for over 200,000 affected families.

A significant point of contention was the disparity between the number of families recognized by the government as affected and Gogoi’s assessment of the damage. According to official surveys, approximately 55,000 families were identified as needing aid, while Gogoi argued that the true figure exceeds 200,000.

He raised concerns about the government’s methodology for assessing damage, claiming that the official numbers do not reflect the actual scale of devastation. Gogoi criticized the government’s assertion that only 55,000 families were affected, labeling this figure misleading. He challenged the ruling BJP to initiate a democratic movement demanding relief and compensation for every flood-affected family, promising his support for such efforts.

Additionally, Gogoi questioned the adequacy of the central government’s financial assistance, citing the announced ₹1,200 crore as insufficient to cover the damages incurred by the floods. He accused the state government of failing to accurately convey the disaster’s severity to the central authorities. Furthermore, he criticized ministers Sushanta Borgohain, Mayur Borgohain, and Dharmeshwar Konwar for their handling of the situation.

Gogoi also claimed that ₹20 crore allocated by ONGC had not yet been released from the Chief Minister’s relief fund. While the ministers’ intervention led to the withdrawal of his hunger strike, the demands for effective flood relief measures and compensation continue to be at the forefront of this ongoing dispute.