APCC chief slams CM over Umrongso coal tragedy, delayed panchayat polls

Guwahati, Jan 11: Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhupen Borah launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of shielding key figures in the illegal mining operations linked to the Umrongso coal mine tragedy.

Speaking in Biswanath on Saturday, Borah alleged that Debolal Gorlosa, Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, and his wife Konika Hojai are central to the illegal coal syndicate. “CM’s feet are on two boats—he knows everything but won’t act. If the police capture Gorlosa and his wife, they will reveal the truth and expose the kingpins behind the coal syndicate,” Borah said, claiming the Chief Minister prioritizes protecting the duo over addressing the issue.

He added that Gorlosa and his wife are merely the “faces” of the racket, while the real masterminds remain unidentified. “The public wants to know who the real kingpin is. This pressure even led the Chief Minister to make a late-night Facebook appearance to address the issue,” Borah remarked.

Borah’s comments come amid rising demands for transparency following the mining disaster, which has intensified scrutiny on illegal mining operations and regulatory failures in Assam’s coal sector.

Borah Criticizes CM for Delaying Panchayat Elections

Borah also criticized Chief Minister Sarma for postponing panchayat elections, accusing the government of negligence and declining popularity. He rebutted Sarma’s claims that Congress had obstructed the polls by filing a court case over delimitation anomalies in Sribhumi district.

The APCC chief questioned the government’s inability to conduct elections nearly a year after dissolving all gram panchayats on February 4, 2024. “The Chief Minister, who portrays himself as a progressive leader, has failed to conduct the polls even after a year,” Borah said.

He alleged that Sarma announced the postponement of elections despite the pending court verdict and criticized government lawyers for failing to present proper arguments. Borah claimed the delay is tied to Rs. 1,000 crore in unused central funds meant for panchayat development, which could lapse due to the absence of elected representatives.

Borah accused non-Congress governments of historically neglecting panchayat elections while highlighting the Congress party’s track record of holding polls regularly. He emphasized that deferring elections beyond six months violates regulations and affirmed the party’s readiness to take legal or democratic action to ensure accountability.

“The Constitution grants us the right to approach courts, and the government cannot evade responsibility by blaming Congress,” he said.

Also Read: We won’t proceed without public consent: CM Khandu on Siang dam

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