Guwahati, July 27 (IANS) Former Assam Assembly Speaker and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Hitendra Nath Goswami on Monday defended his foreign visit during the recent flood crisis in Upper Assam, saying he remained in continuous contact with the district administration, party workers, and local representatives throughout the period and closely monitored the situation in his constituency from abroad.
Goswami, who defeated Congress state President Gaurav Gogoi in the Jorhat Assembly seat in this year’s election, told reporters at the Assam Legislative Assembly that the flood situation in Jorhat has largely stabilised.
He said he has now been permitted to visit the constituency after the Assembly proceedings to review the ground situation and relief measures.
The senior BJP legislator explained that his overseas trip had been planned in connection with his daughter’s PhD admission process.
He clarified that he had obtained the required permission before travelling and had informed the concerned authorities that he would return in time for the ongoing Assembly session.
“When I left the country, there was no indication that the situation in Jorhat would deteriorate to this extent. The conditions were normal at that time, and I believed that even if there were rainfall, the water would recede quickly,” Goswami said.
Responding to criticism over not cutting short his visit, the MLA said an immediate return was not practically possible as it would have required cancelling existing travel arrangements and purchasing new tickets at very short notice, resulting in substantial financial losses.
He maintained that his physical absence did not affect relief efforts in the constituency, asserting that he was in regular communication with the Jorhat Deputy Commissioner, district officials, and BJP workers who were actively engaged in rescue and relief operations.
“I was constantly speaking to the Deputy Commissioner and party volunteers. Relief work continued without interruption, and I kept myself informed about every major development,” he said.
Rejecting allegations that he had abandoned his constituency during a crisis, Goswami said he has always preferred to work quietly rather than seek media attention.
“I have never believed in publicity. My focus has always been on serving the people. The residents of Jorhat know my work, and they have not complained against me,” he said.
The BJP MLA turned visibly emotional while responding to repeated questions over the controversy surrounding his absence during the floods. At one point during the interaction, he paused briefly and wiped tears from his eyes before continuing to answer reporters’ queries.
The controversy surfaced after sections of the Opposition questioned the timing of Goswami’s foreign visit while several parts of Upper Assam were battling one of the worst flood situations in recent years.
–IANS
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