Raijor Dal chief says he was stopped from raising the plight of flood-affected districts; seeks declaration of floods as a natural calamity.
Guwahati, July 23: Proceedings in the Assam Legislative Assembly witnessed high drama on Thursday after Raijor Dal president and Sibsagar MLA Akhil Gogoi was suspended for the remainder of the day’s sitting following a heated exchange with Speaker Ranjit Kumar Dass.
The confrontation unfolded during the tenth day of the ongoing Budget Session when Gogoi attempted to invoke Rule 56 to suspend the scheduled business and press for an immediate discussion on the worsening flood situation in Charaideo, Sivasagar and Jorhat districts.
According to Assembly proceedings, the Speaker intervened after Gogoi allegedly exceeded the time allotted for his submission. The exchange soon escalated, with Speaker Ranjit Kumar Dass stating that the MLA’s conduct had disrupted the functioning of the House before ordering his suspension for the rest of the day.
Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Gogoi maintained that he was only trying to draw the House’s attention to the humanitarian crisis caused by the floods. He claimed he was prevented from completing his statement despite seeking an urgent discussion on the issue.
The Sibsagar MLA also urged the Assam Government to officially declare the current floods a natural calamity and submit a proposal to the Centre for additional financial assistance to support relief and rehabilitation efforts in the affected regions.
The suspension comes at a time when several districts in Upper Assam continue to face widespread flooding, with demands growing for enhanced relief measures and faster restoration of essential services.
