BJP Aspirant Penalised for Flood Relief? Khumtai MLA Slams Bureaucracy

A controversy has erupted in Assam’s Sarupathar after the local administration issued a show-cause notice to a local BJP ticket aspirant, Jiban Chutia, for distributing flood relief materials without prior permission. The action has drawn sharp criticism from Khumtai MLA Mrinal Saikia, who questioned whether helping flood-affected people has now become a punishable offence.

Chutia, who had sought the BJP ticket from Sarupathar in the last Assembly elections and is reportedly in the race again for the upcoming polls, distributed relief at the Simoluchapari L.P. School relief camp—an officially designated shelter for flood-hit residents of Singimari village.

As per the notice issued by the Office of the Circle Officer of Sarupathar Revenue Circle, Chutia distributed relief materials at the camp without obtaining permission from the district or sub-divisional administration, allegedly violating camp management protocols under Section 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

Whether is it a crime to provide relief materials to flood affected people? Or such practices helps Government machineries.

খুমটাই সমষ্টিৰ বান বিধ্বস্ত ৰাইজৰ বাবে প্ৰশাসনে স্থাপন কৰা বিভিন্ন অস্থায়ী আশ্ৰয় শিবিৰত যোৱা তিনি চাৰি দিন সমাজৰ বিভিন্ন ব্যক্তি তথা দল সংগঠনে খাদ্য… pic.twitter.com/5aJu7GYu23

— Mrinal Saikia (@Mrinal_MLA) July 9, 2025

The notice directs Chutia to respond within three days, explaining why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for bypassing official procedures.

Reacting to the incident, MLA Mrinal Saikia lashed out at the administration via social media:
"Is it a crime to provide relief to flood-affected people? Or do such actions support the government machinery?" he asked.

Saikia noted that in recent days, several individuals, NGOs, and social organizations have stepped forward to supply food, clean water, clothing, and other essentials at relief camps across the flood-hit Khumtai region. “Such voluntary efforts significantly assist government operations. We are grateful to everyone who has contributed selflessly,” he said.

Referring to the Sarupathar incident as an “absurd episode,” Saikia asked, “How can providing humanitarian aid to people in crisis be seen as a violation? Who would even conceive such a thing? Shame on such a mindset.”

The issuance of a notice to Chutia, a known BJP worker with political aspirations, has triggered speculation that the action may be politically motivated. Some party insiders allege that internal rivalries could be at play, while others point to a widening disconnect between the district administration and grassroots workers actively engaging in relief operations.

Public sentiment in Sarupathar appears to be strongly in favour of Chutia, with several local residents expressing outrage over what they perceive as bureaucratic overreach. “Instead of encouraging more people to help during a disaster, the administration is penalizing them,” said a local youth leader.

As Assam continues to reel under severe flooding, with thousands displaced across several districts, the incident raises critical questions about the balance between administrative protocol and humanitarian urgency—especially when politics gets tangled in the process.

Also Read: Flood Fury Grips Five Assam Districts; Over 29,000 Affected as Death Toll Rises to 24