Gaurav Gogoi Alleges Bias in Assam's Dairy and Farm Schemes, Urges PM's Intervention
Guwahati: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising grave concerns over alleged misuse and political favoritism in two key government-backed agricultural initiatives in Assam — the Commercial Dairy Farming scheme and the Gorukhuti agricultural project. In his letter, Gogoi called for an immediate review of the “Assistance to Entrepreneur for Establishment of Commercial Dairy Farming (2022–23)” scheme, alleging that beneficiaries include close relatives and associates of ruling party ministers and MLAs. The scheme offers subsidies up to ₹50 lakh per unit to promote dairy entrepreneurship, but Gogoi claims it has become a vehicle for political patronage rather than genuine support for farmers. “Reports from districts like Bongaigaon indicate that experienced dairy farmers were repeatedly denied benefits, while those with political links were prioritized,” Gogoi wrote, accusing the state government of undermining fairness and transparency. He also criticized Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for defending the inclusion of ministers' family members in the list of beneficiaries, stating that such justifications damage public trust and promote a culture of favoritism. Gogoi further alleged irregularities in the Gorukhuti agricultural project, which was allocated over ₹5.5 crore for community development through livestock distribution. He claimed that Gir cows under the scheme were given to entities connected to political figures, including the wife of Cabinet Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah and MLAs Bhupen Pegu, Utpal Borah, Diganta Kalita, and MP Dilip Saikia. Terming the alleged misappropriation a “serious betrayal of public interest,” Gogoi urged the Prime Minister to initiate a thorough inquiry and ensure that schemes designed for marginalized communities are not hijacked by political elites. “If politically-connected individuals continue to siphon off schemes meant for the underprivileged, we risk alienating the very communities these policies aim to empower,” Gogoi warned, urging urgent central intervention to uphold ethical governance in Assam.
