Guwahati, Feb 15: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on February 15 strongly responded to Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi over his criticism of recent infrastructure initiatives, asserting that projects such as the Moran Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) are driven by national security imperatives rather than everyday consumer considerations.
Reacting to Gogoi’s remarks comparing infrastructure spending to the cost of “chai and samosa” and questioning how high airfares or expensive airport tea benefit the poor, Sarma said such arguments reflected a limited understanding of governance and strategic priorities.
“To run a government and ensure the security of the State, one must have depth. If an enemy country attacks us, how will we protect ourselves? The Northeast is surrounded by Bangladesh, Myanmar and China. We face unique vulnerabilities,” the Chief Minister said.
He emphasised that the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) at Moran and similar strategic projects are essential for national defence preparedness and should have been undertaken much earlier. According to him, such infrastructure enhances the region’s resilience and readiness in the event of external threats.
Gogoi, meanwhile, had questioned the relevance of these developments to ordinary citizens. Referring to air travel costs, he asked how many poor people could afford tickets from Dibrugarh to Delhi priced between ₹18,000 and ₹20,000. He also highlighted high prices at airports, stating that a cup of tea costing ₹150 to ₹200 inside an airport does not serve the interests of economically weaker sections.
The exchange underscores a broader political debate over balancing strategic infrastructure development with affordability and direct economic benefits for common citizens in the Northeast.
