The Raijor Dal chief says the agitation could resume if the government fails to deliver compensation and assistance to flood-affected families.
Guwahati: Raijor Dal chief and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi on Wednesday suspended his 14-day satyagraha outside the Assam Legislative Assembly following assurances from state ministers Keshab Mahanta and Pijush Hazarika on flood relief and compensation.
The protest, launched on October 2, sought assistance for flood-hit families in Sivasagar, Charaideo and other districts of Upper Assam.
Gogoi said the government had initiated assistance for 57,000 affected families and that almost all eligible beneficiaries had received the pending Rs 15,000 flood relief payment. Officials would also conduct fresh surveys and prepare a second beneficiary list to cover families left out of the initial assessment.
The government has assured Rs 5.70 lakh in compensation to families whose houses were completely destroyed, although Gogoi had demanded Rs 10 lakh per family.
He also sought housing assistance for displaced families, increased support under the Orunodoi scheme and a CBI probe into flood-related deaths and other issues. The government has opted for a high-level inquiry instead.
Hazarika announced that coconut and areca nut saplings would be distributed among affected families in Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat. Seeds for Rabi crops will also be provided to help farmers resume cultivation.
Gogoi stressed that the agitation had only been suspended and warned of fresh protests if the government failed to honour its commitments.
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