Gaurav Gogoi Demands High-Level Probe into B.J.P Government’s Corruption and Political Bias of Officials in flood Relief operations
By Dalim Phukan
Morigaon/Assam, Aug 29 : Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi launched a scathing attack on the ruling BJP government over alleged widespread corruption in the distribution of flood relief, fake Aadhaar card-related irregularities under the PM-KISAN scheme, and environmental destruction in the state.
Addressing an interaction programme with journalists held at the office of the Morigaon District Journalists’ Association, Gogoi levelled several serious allegations against the government.
At the press meet, Gogoi alleged that the relief materials distributed to flood-affected people were of extremely poor quality and unfit for consumption. He alleged that major irregularities had taken place between the concerned department and contractors in the procurement of these materials, purchased with taxpayers’ hard-earned money.
He further alleged that villages were inundated due to the negligence of contractors entrusted with repairing embankments and claimed that these contractors had been receiving protection from ruling party ministers and MLAs. He demanded a Central Government inquiry into the entire process of procurement and distribution of relief materials.
Gogoi also alleged that under the PM-KISAN scheme, funds meant for genuine farmers were being siphoned off through the use of fake Aadhaar cards, with as many as three or four members of the same family allegedly receiving the benefits. He claimed that Assam would rank among the top states in the country in terms of such irregularities.
Taking a dig at the lavish lifestyles of ministers and MLAs, Gogoi said that some people had now begun using cars worth crores of rupees and watches costing lakhs of rupees, allegedly at the expense of public money.
Referring to the forthcoming by-elections, he strongly criticised a serving IAS officer. Alleging that the district commissioner had participated in political meetings with the BJP’s candidate and party workers, Gogoi said that such an officer should be immediately suspended or transferred to ensure the neutrality of the Election Commission and the electoral process.
Gogoi also expressed deep concern over alleged illegal mining in Kaziranga and the hills of Karbi Anglong. He alleged that Eco-Sensitive Zones were being reduced to benefit private companies. Warning that illegal mining could disturb the natural ecological balance of Kaziranga and that hill cutting could trigger natural disasters, he threatened to launch a strong protest movement against such activities.
Targeting the state government’s revenue-generation policies, Gogoi alleged that the government was busy increasing excise revenue by opening more liquor shops, while simultaneously increasing school fees, petrol and diesel prices, municipal taxes and various penalties, thereby placing an additional financial burden on ordinary people.
He further alleged that the government was “emptying the pockets of ordinary people” in order to repay its debts.
Among those present at the interaction programme were Laharighat MLA Dr. Asif Mohammad Nazar, former MLAs Shivamoni Bora, Satyabrata Kalita and Bubul Das, Pradesh Congress leader Ramananda Barua, Morigaon District Congress president Shravan Kumar Dekaraja, and several senior leaders of the Pradesh and district Congress committees.
Earlier in the morning, after Gaurav Gogoi, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, entered Morigaon, students of Ghanakanta Barua College accorded him a warm welcome and interacted with him.
During his visit to Morigaon, Gogoi also interacted with advocates of the Morigaon Bar Association.
