Members of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) protested near Kaziranga National Park, accusing the BJP government of prioritizing corporate interests over environmental and wildlife protection.
APCC chief Gaurav Gogoi said, “After the devastation caused by illegal coal mining in Nagaland, we expected the Chief Minister to learn a lesson. Instead, the government is focusing on legalizing illegal coal mining and enabling large mining projects in the Karbi Anglong hills by altering the eco-sensitive zone.”
Gogoi warned that this move could worsen human-elephant conflicts and criticized the government for ignoring local concerns. He also mentioned that indigenous rights activist Pranab Doley faces false sedition charges for opposing such projects.
He questioned the Union government’s flood relief funds, stating, “The Union government has released only Rs 324 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund for floods. If funds exist for a Rs 7,000-crore elevated corridor, why can't similar resources be used for flood protection and embankments?”
Gogoi met with Doley's father and pledged Congress's legal support against what he called the Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma government's false charges.
