Assam: Suren Phukan's Remark on Govt Schemes Triggers Political Uproar

GUWAHATI: A storm of criticism has swept through Assam's political landscape after a controversial remark by Digboi MLA Suren Phukan at an election rally recently.

The remark, which went viral on social media in short order, has sparked a heated debate about the fairness of distributing government welfare schemes and the morality of tying public benefits to political loyalty.

While speaking at a meeting at the Makum Gorkha Samaj Naamghar in Tinsukia district, Phukan reportedly stated that ward members who were members of opposition parties would be barred from benefiting from government schemes.

The statement has attracted biting criticism from diverse sources, with many accusing the legislator of devaluing democratic principles and seeking to utilize public resources as instruments of political patronage.

Defending his stand, Phukan said, "The opposition does not have a government or a president. Therefore, they don't deserve the benefits of government schemes."

This comment has been roundly criticized as a show of contempt for democratic values, with critics holding the view that it implies critical welfare schemes may be withheld depending on political allegiances—an option that goes against the very basics of equal rule.

The episode has once again raised concerns about the politicization of development programs in India. Activists, civil society, and opposition parties have insisted that schemes of the government, paid for by taxpayers, belong to every citizen regardless of their political leaning.

Phukan's statement has also triggered concerns about authoritarianism, and critics have accused him of crossing his limits and trying to scare off political rivals by using the state apparatus.

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