Guwahati, Aug 17: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has decided to launch a statewide mass awareness campaign against coal, stone and sand syndicates, alleging that their activities contributed to the recent floods in the state.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by APCC president Gaurav Gogoi on August 16, which also reviewed the party’s organisational activities and preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha by-election, autonomous council polls and municipal elections.
According to the APCC, coal, stone and sand syndicates were among the primary drivers of the recent disaster in Upper Assam. The party resolved to mobilise public opinion against their activities.
The meeting reviewed relief and rehabilitation work carried out by district Congress committees and party organisations, including Seva Dal, Mahila Congress, Youth Congress and NSUI, in flood-affected areas. Congress workers have been involved in rebuilding damaged houses, cleaning public and religious institutions, helping schools resume classes and assisting farmers with paddy seedlings and transplantation.
The party also adopted resolutions opposing the proposed reduction of the eco-sensitive zone around Kaziranga National Park from 10 km to 1 km. It further opposed the proposed acquisition of indigenous land at Engleng Pathar for handing over to large corporate entities.
The Congress said it would lead a mass movement to build public opinion against what it described as “anti-people policies”. The meeting also discussed zonal training for Pradesh Congress workers, appointments of RSS-affiliated individuals as vice-chancellors and alleged preference for ideologically aligned candidates in the appointment of college principals.
The party leadership also expressed concern over what it described as a “churn” among Gen-Z over the education system and approved a proposal to organise a state-level youth convention. A separate meeting of the APCC social media department was also held as part of the organisational review.
