Guwahati, 30 August (HS): The Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi over the Congress’s protests concerning Kaziranga National Park.

BJP media panelist Amal Narayan Patowary alleged that 239 one-horned rhinos were killed during the tenure of former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and accused the previous Congress government of failing to adequately tackle rhino poaching and illegal encroachment around Kaziranga.

Referring to the controversy over the reduction of the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) from 10 km to 1 km in certain areas following Supreme Court directions, Patowary termed the Congress’s protest “crocodile tears”. He questioned why Gogoi, during his tenure as the MP from Kaliabor, had not raised issues related to rhino poaching, encroachment and flood threats to Kaziranga in Parliament.

Patowary said the BJP government had taken several measures to strengthen wildlife protection, including eviction drives against alleged illegal encroachment, modern equipment for forest personnel and steps towards constructing elevated wildlife corridors. He claimed that the protected area associated with the Kaziranga landscape had expanded by 478 sq km since the BJP came to power in Assam.

The BJP leader also accused Gogoi of politicising the flood situation, alleging that he had not visited flood-affected people in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts.

Highlighting the state government’s initiatives under Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, Patowary mentioned government job appointments, construction of stadiums, a Guwahati flyover, plantation of 1.5 crore trees by students, Babu Scheme and Orunodoi 3.0.

He added that ₹30.26 crore had been transferred through DBT to 78,490 mothers under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana. Patowary alleged that Gogoi was attempting to politicise various issues ahead of the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election and obstruct the government’s development agenda.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash