Dispur Tightening Grip on Autonomous Councils, Says Gaurav Gogoi

In a scathing attack on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam Congress President Gaurav Gogoi on Saturday alleged that the constitutional autonomy granted under the Sixth Schedule to tribal regions such as Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, and the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) has been systematically seized and centralized by the BJP-led government in Dispur.

Addressing a press conference in Diphu, Gogoi claimed that the BJP has “hollowed out” the very spirit of the Sixth Schedule, reducing the autonomous councils to toothless bodies operating under remote control from Dispur.

"Those entrusted with protecting the Sixth Schedule have destroyed it. All decisions—from development to land distribution—are now taken by the Chief Minister himself. Local councils have been reduced to mere spectators,” Gogoi thundered.

The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution was designed to safeguard the administrative and financial independence of tribal-dominated regions. However, according to Gogoi, this principle has been eroded beyond recognition.

“Power Should Not Be Limited to Delhi or Dispur”

Gogoi said that the essence of the Sixth Schedule lies in decentralization and the empowerment of local communities. “The people of Karbi Anglong, BTR, and Dima Hasao should have the right to determine their own developmental roadmap. But instead of self-governance, we are witnessing total control from Dispur,” he said.

He accused the BJP of not only consolidating power but also silencing local leadership. “The councils today have no spine. Council leaders seem more interested in pleasing the Chief Minister than in standing up for their people.”

Congress’s Legacy vs BJP’s Centralization

Drawing a sharp contrast, Gogoi praised former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s legacy, stating that his government had actively promoted decentralization—even when it meant sacrificing political gains.

“Tarun Gogoi formed autonomous councils for communities like the Thengal Kachari and Rabha after widespread consultations. Decisions were made in Diphu, Kokrajhar, and Haflong—not dictated from Dispur. Today, it’s the exact opposite,” Gogoi said.

He alleged that under Himanta Biswa Sarma’s leadership, not only have the powers of local bodies been diluted, but even land and public resources are being arbitrarily distributed without council consultation.

“How can the Chief Minister distribute council land according to his personal whims? This is not governance—it is authoritarianism,” he said.

A Call for Resistance, Beyond Ideology

Gogoi made an impassioned appeal to local council leaders—irrespective of party affiliation—to assert their constitutional role and speak up for their people. “Even if they follow a different ideology, they must not remain silent. Their silence today is a betrayal of their community’s future.”

He described the current situation as a direct threat to the tribal self-governance structure envisioned in the Constitution, warning that this is not just a political issue, but a fight to preserve the rights and dignity of indigenous communities.

“This is a dangerous trend. If we don’t resist now, the constitutional foundation of tribal autonomy will be permanently damaged,” Gogoi warned.

Congress Plans Statewide Mobilisation

Signaling an aggressive political strategy ahead, Gogoi announced that the Congress party will soon intensify its protests across the Sixth Schedule regions. “We will not sit quietly while the government continues to undermine local governance. The voice of Diphu, Dima Hasao, and BTR must rise again.”

As tensions simmer in Assam’s tribal heartlands over perceived centralization, Gogoi’s remarks have added fuel to a growing narrative of disenchantment and powerlessness among autonomous council leaders—setting the stage for a politically charged confrontation in the months ahead.

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