Guwahati: Thousands of people participated in the massive ‘Save the Community, Save the Land’ padyatra organised by the Assam Pradesh Youth Congress in Golaghat town on Sunday. The march, conducted by the Golaghat District Youth Congress, was attended by APCC President Gaurav Gogoi, Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia, MLA Bhaskar Baruah, and Assam Pradesh Youth Congress President Zubair Anam.
During the padyatra, Congress leaders and workers, along with Gaurav Gogoi, displayed posters and banners bearing the slogan ‘Modi–Epstein bhai bhai’, amid ongoing global political controversies surrounding the Epstein files and allegations linking the Prime Minister’s name.
Addressing a large public gathering at the conclusion of the march, Gaurav Gogoi said the objective of the padyatra was to protect Assam’s land. He alleged that the current government is handing over land belonging to the sons of the soil to “Mama–Mami, Ambani–Adani and Patanjali,” warning that if this continues, indigenous people of Assam could be left without even an inch of land in the future.
Gogoi further claimed that no community in Assam has been spared from betrayal by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He said the government had promised Scheduled Tribe status to six communities but later backtracked, with the Chief Minister reportedly stating that the status would not be granted before the Assembly elections. He also alleged that tea garden workers were promised land pattas that have yet to be delivered.
Launching a sharp attack on the closure of government schools, Gogoi said children from various communities are being denied opportunities to become self-reliant. He alleged that government schools have been shut down in interior areas, including tea garden regions and Mising areas, while liquor shops have been opened in their place. “When liquor and drugs surround society from all sides, can a community remain safe?” he asked.
Gogoi also accused the government of failing to provide employment opportunities. He alleged that syndicates dealing in coal, sand, and stone continue to flourish, while youth are denied the chance to become contractors as government contracts are awarded to a handful of contractors based in Guwahati. He further claimed that small shopkeepers are struggling to survive due to the rise of online platforms such as Amazon, Swiggy, and Flipkart, yet the Chief Minister remains indifferent.
Targeting the Chief Minister’s public image, Gogoi accused him of abusing certain sections of society to cover up personal scandals. “What kind of Hindu leader takes money from cattle syndicates? What kind of Hindu leader snatches tribal land and hands it over to Adani and Ambani?” he questioned. He added that true Hindu values—civility, strength, progressiveness, broad-mindedness, and generosity are absent in the Chief Minister’s governance.
Gogoi further alleged that the government prioritises profits from cattle syndicates and coal scams, manipulates land for personal gain, and promotes drugs and liquor, thereby harming the youth. Calling for a “New Greater Assam,” he urged the state to embrace politics based on peace, harmony, productivity, ethics, and ideals, and appealed to people to remain united.
At the beginning of his speech, Gaurav Gogoi paid tribute to senior Golaghat Congress leader and APCC General Secretary Golap Saikia, offering prayers for his soul and condolences to his bereaved family. The meeting was also attended by APCC Working President Rozelina Tirkey, Assam Pradesh Youth Congress in-charge Mitendra Darshan Singh, and co-in-charge Jishan Ahmed.