Akhil Gogoi hunger strike in Dispur: demands ₹25,000 relief for Assam flood victims
Synopsis
Akhil Gogoi's hunger strike outside Lok Sewa Bhawan on 17 September is not just a protest — it is a direct challenge to both the Assam government and the Centre, demanding ₹25,000 per flood-affected family and a CBI inquiry into whether illegal mining worsened the Upper Assam deluge. With a larger rally set for 23 September, the political pressure on the ruling establishment is set to rise.
Key Takeaways
Akhil Gogoi , Raijor Dal president and Sivasagar MLA , began a day-long hunger strike on 17 September 2026 outside Lok Sewa Bhawan, Dispur .
Raijor Dal demands immediate relief of ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per flood-affected family and ₹10 lakh compensation for destroyed property.
The party has called for a CBI investigation into the Upper Assam floods, citing alleged illegal mining as a possible contributing factor.
Gogoi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not visit flood-hit areas despite election-campaign commitments.
Raijor Dal has demanded the removal of Water Resources Minister Sushanta Borgohain and the arrest of two ruling party MLAs.
A larger protest is planned in Guwahati on 23 September if demands are not addressed.
Raijor Dal president and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi on Thursday, 17 September 2026, launched a day-long hunger strike outside Lok Sewa Bhawan in Dispur, Guwahati, pressing the Assam state government and the Centre to substantially raise compensation and relief for families devastated by the recent floods in Upper Assam. The fast, running from 8 am to 4 pm, marks an escalation in Raijor Dal's sustained campaign for stronger governmental response to what the party describes as a neglected disaster.
Key Demands
Raijor Dal has put forward a specific and quantified set of demands. The party is seeking immediate financial assistance of between ₹15,000 and ₹25,000 for every flood-affected family, along with compensation of ₹10 lakh for each family whose house or property was destroyed. Similar compensation has been demanded for affected business establishments, reflecting the scale of economic disruption that the floods reportedly caused across Upper Assam.
Beyond financial relief, the party has called for an immediate CBI investigation into the Upper Assam floods to determine the root causes of the devastation and fix accountability. Gogoi has previously alleged that illegal mining and associated activities may have worsened the impact of the floods — charges that the state government has not publicly responded to in detail.
Allegations Against the Government
Gogoi accused both the Assam state administration and the Centre of an inadequate response to the disaster. He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite commitments made during election campaigns, had neither visited flood-hit areas of Upper Assam nor assessed conditions in remote locations following the deluge. The Raijor Dal leader further claimed that the Centre had not announced any special assistance package for flood-affected communities, nor issued a formal statement expressing concern over the destruction.
Gogoi also took aim at ruling party leaders, ministers, and MLAs, alleging that their focus had shifted to the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election while flood-affected families continued to wait for government support. The critique points to what the party characterises as a pattern of electoral prioritisation over humanitarian response.
Specific Accountability Demands
Raijor Dal has gone beyond general criticism, demanding the removal of Assam Water Resources Minister Sushanta Borgohain from the state Cabinet. The party has also sought the arrest of Sonari MLA Dharmeswar Konwar and Nazira MLA Mayur Borgohain, though the specific grounds for these demands were not elaborated in available statements beyond the broader accountability framework the party has outlined.
What Comes Next
Gogoi warned that Raijor Dal's agitation will intensify if the government fails to act on the demands following Thursday's fast. The party has announced a larger protest in Guwahati on 23 September, signalling that Thursday's hunger strike is the opening salvo in a more sustained mobilisation. This latest action forms part of a continuing campaign for improved flood relief, rehabilitation, and an independent inquiry into the causes of the Upper Assam disaster.
Point of View
Property compensation, and a CBI inquiry — are specific enough to be politically awkward for the ruling establishment. What the mainstream coverage tends to underplay is the illegal-mining allegation: if a probe establishes a link between extractive activity and flood amplification, it would shift the narrative from natural disaster to man-made failure. The timing, set against the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election, also exposes a structural tension in state politics — flood relief and electoral arithmetic rarely align in the same news cycle, and opposition parties are increasingly adept at exploiting that gap.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Akhil Gogoi on a hunger strike?
Akhil Gogoi launched a day-long hunger strike on 17 September 2026 to demand enhanced relief and compensation for families affected by the recent Upper Assam floods, alleging that both the state government and the Centre have responded inadequately. He is also calling for a CBI inquiry into the causes of the floods.
What compensation is Raijor Dal demanding for flood victims?
Raijor Dal is demanding immediate financial assistance of ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 for every flood-affected family, and ₹10 lakh compensation for each family whose home or property was destroyed. Similar compensation has been sought for affected business establishments.
Why has Gogoi called for a CBI probe into the Upper Assam floods?
Gogoi has alleged that illegal mining and related activities may have worsened the impact of the floods, and is seeking a CBI investigation to establish the root causes of the disaster and fix accountability. He has not specified which entities the probe should examine beyond the broader allegation.
What political allegations has Gogoi made against the ruling party?
Gogoi alleged that ruling party leaders, ministers, and MLAs have diverted attention to the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election while flood-affected families await relief. He also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite campaign commitments, did not visit flood-hit areas of Upper Assam after the deluge.
What is Raijor Dal planning if the government does not respond?
Raijor Dal has announced a larger protest in Guwahati on 23 September 2026 if the government fails to act on its demands following the hunger strike. Gogoi has warned that the agitation will intensify, signalling a broader mobilisation is under preparation.
