Congress urges the Union Government to provide more funds to NE States to deal with the floods

People use a boat to move to safer areas after heavy rainfall triggered floods, in Nagaon district of Assam, on June 2, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI

Targeting the Narendra Modi government over its handling of the flood situation in the northeast, especially Assam, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday (June 2, 2025) urged the Centre to release more funds in northeastern States.

In a social media post, Mr. Kharge said he hoped Mr. Modi would open the floodgates of his PM CARES Fund. He also recalled the BJP’s promise of making Assam flood-free.

“In 2016, BJP had promised to make a ‘Flood-Free’ Assam. In 2022, Home Minister, Amit Shah repeated this promise. Looking at the visuals from the so-called ‘SMART CITY’ Guwahati, one is reminded how Modi ji and his double engine governments have betrayed Assam,” Mr Kharge said in a post on X.

He noted that Assam, Arunachal, Manipur, Sikkim and Meghalaya were among the worst-affected States, where many lives have been lost and lakhs of people have been affected. He urged his party leaders and workers to provide assistance to the people.

“Diversion, Distraction and Digression from basic developmental issues to emotive and polarising subjects has been the hallmark of BJP’s politics. Modi Govt must release more funds to all the states of NE, especially Assam for flood preparedness,” Mr. Kharge said.

“Perhaps Modi ji could open the floodgates of PM CARES Fund, crores of which lie, without a public audit,” the Congress chief added in a dig at the Prime Minister.

Former party chief and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, in an X post, said the news of loss of life due to heavy rains in the northeastern States, especially Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, was extremely sad.

“Due to this tragedy, the situation in Guwahati is extremely worrying - life has been completely disrupted. I appeal to the Central and State governments to speed up relief and rescue operations and provide immediate assistance to everyone in need,” Mr. Gandhi said, while urging his party colleagues to provide all possible assistance in relief work.

Several people have died in the floods in Assam, and more than four lakh people have been affected in over 20 districts, with seven major rivers in spate.

The flood situation in the northeastern States of Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh continued to be grim after heavy rainfall in several parts.

Published - June 02, 2025 08:40 pm IST