Raijor Dal president and Sibsagar MLA Akhil Gogoi said he faced sharp criticism and angry reactions from flood-affected residents during a visit to relief-hit areas in Assam’s Sivasagar district, describing the experience as an important lesson in public accountability for elected representatives.
In a social media post, Gogoi recounted an interaction at Ailamukh village under Mogorahat Panchayat, where a local resident, identified as Radhika, expressed strong dissatisfaction over delays in reaching flood-affected areas and alleged inadequacies in relief distribution. She also questioned the exclusion of several families from the government’s immediate assistance package of Rs 15,000 and raised concerns about the functioning of some local workers associated with Gogoi’s party.
According to Gogoi, the criticism was spontaneous and reflected the frustration and hardship faced by residents affected by the floods.
"My colleagues were upset and angered by the criticism, but I viewed it positively. It was an expression of the pain and anger of flood-hit people,” Gogoi said.
Drawing a comparison with criticism faced by governments from opposition parties, the Sibsagar MLA said direct feedback from the public was equally important in ensuring accountability. He stressed that complaints and expressions of anger from affected communities could help elected representatives understand ground realities more closely.
Gogoi further said that this was the first time during his tenure that he had faced such direct criticism from flood-affected residents. Rather than viewing the confrontation negatively, he described it as an opportunity to listen to the grievances of people and reassess the effectiveness of relief efforts.
Large parts of Sivasagar district have been affected by the ongoing floods, with several villages reporting inundation, displacement and difficulties in accessing relief. The situation has also intensified demands for more effective relief distribution and rehabilitation measures for affected families.
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