Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi visited the disputed Assam-Nagaland border area on Tuesday, accompanied by a heavy police deployment, to assess the situation in Mariani, which falls under his Lok Sabha constituency.
Gaurav Gogoi Inspects Border Villages Amid Encroachment Concerns
During his visit, Gaurav Gogoi toured areas where alleged Nagaland encroachment is ongoing, including Nagajanka under Ward No. 2 of the 61 No. Katani Panchayat, where MGNREGA development work was reportedly halted a few days earlier by the Naga administration. Gogoi held extensive discussions with border residents on the issue.
Speaking to the media, Gaurav Gogoi said Assam residents have long cultivated land in areas like Merapani and Uriamghat in Golaghat district, and that people are increasingly reporting the gradual movement of Nagaland residents into these areas. He noted that the permanent Assam-Nagaland boundary dispute remains pending before the Supreme Court.
Gaurav Gogoi Questions Administration’s Silence
The Congress leader questioned why MGNREGA job card work in Assam’s revenue villages was being stopped by the Naga administration without any response from Assam’s own administration. Gaurav Gogoi also criticized the state government for showing urgency in handing over Sixth Schedule area land to corporate groups like Adani and Ambani, while failing to show the same urgency in protecting the interests of border residents.
He further alleged that pucca roads were being constructed by the Nagaland government in the disputed area while the Assam government remained inactive, asking why authorities could not simply declare that no construction should take place until the border dispute is resolved.
Gaurav Gogoi Targets CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
Gaurav Gogoi launched a sharp personal attack on Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging that the CM had effectively “surrendered” to Nagaland on the border issue, and cited several reasons to support the claim.
He also expressed concern that the Central government has shown little interest in the matter despite the case being sub judice in the Supreme Court, claiming that Assam has continued to lose land in areas like Jorhat and Golaghat district.
Gogoi’s visit to the border area drew a large contingent of Assam Police personnel, and he was accompanied by office-bearers of the Jorhat District Congress Committee throughout the inspection.
