Politics · India · 2 hrs ago
Assam CM says flood aid is delayed to deny opposition leader credit
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said flood relief payments were being delayed so opposition MLA Akhil Gogoi could not claim credit for them.
Gogoi, who leads the Raijor Dal, has held an indefinite sit-in at the state Assembly, saying most affected families have not received government aid.
The dispute concerns floods in eastern Assam’s Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat districts, which Gogoi says devastated communities.
He said the protest began 76 days after the floods hit and that only some families had received ₹15,000 each.
At least 108 people died in this year’s floods across Assam, which also damaged homes and public infrastructure.
Gogoi is seeking at least ₹10 lakh for each affected family, interim payments and a CBI inquiry into the floods.
The sources do not say when the government will release the aid or whether it will meet his demands.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said flood relief payments were being delayed so opposition MLA Akhil Gogoi could not claim credit for their release.
Gogoi said he began an indefinite protest because affected people had received little or no help 76 days after floods hit eastern Assam.
He said most affected people had not received assistance, while some families received an ex gratia payment of ₹15,000 each.
Gogoi called for compensation of at least ₹10 lakh per affected family in Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat.
At least 108 people died in floods in Assam this year, and the deluge damaged homes and public infrastructure.
- Who
- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and opposition MLA Akhil Gogoi.
- What
- Sarma said flood relief payments were delayed to prevent Gogoi from claiming credit. Gogoi demanded aid and staged an indefinite protest.
- When
- Sarma made the statement on October 4, 2026. Gogoi said his protest began on October 2.
- Where
- Assam, particularly the eastern districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat.
- Why
- Sarma said he wanted to prevent Gogoi from taking credit for the payments. Gogoi said he was protesting because help had not reached affected people.
Himanta Biswa Sarma
Akhil Gogoi
Reason for delay
Himanta Biswa Sarma
Sarma said the payments were being delayed so Gogoi could not claim credit for their release.
Akhil Gogoi
Gogoi said he protested because people affected by the floods had not received help.
Government response
Himanta Biswa Sarma
Sarma said people would get the money and accused Gogoi of seeking political credit.
Akhil Gogoi
Gogoi said the government had forgotten people who lost everything and called its response unacceptable.
Gogoi said he began his protest on the 76th day after floods hit the eastern districts.
Sarma said relief payments were being delayed so Gogoi could not claim credit.
Gogoi said he had started an indefinite satyagraha because aid had not been forthcoming.
- Deaths
- At least 108 people died in Assam floods this year
- Interim aid received
- Some families received an ex gratia payment of ₹15,000 each
- Requested compensation
- At least ₹10 lakh for each affected family
- Districts named
- Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat
- Protest began
- October 2, 2026
1 source
What people are saying
We have to delay the disbursement so that he cannot claim the credit
I sat on protest on October 2, which was the 76th day of the floods hitting the eastern districts.
It was a catastrophic disaster and not an annual flood. The way the government dealt with it is unacceptable