Guwahati, Feb 13: Gaurav Gogoi, president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, on Thursday criticised Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during a protest in Biswanath, alleging shortcomings in governance and law enforcement.

Addressing supporters, Gogoi claimed that the Assam Police had been under-registering First Information Reports (FIRs), which he alleged was affecting crime statistics in the state. He said feedback from a Congress manifesto committee, district residents, and lawyers’ associations indicated a decline in registered FIR numbers in several areas.

Gogoi further alleged that crimes against women and drug-related offences had increased but were not being formally recorded in many cases. He stated that reducing FIR registrations could impact access to justice, particularly for women.

The Congress leader also accused the Chief Minister of relying on legal action against critics instead of engaging in political debate. He said political disagreements should be addressed through public discourse rather than court proceedings.

Gogoi added that political opposition would continue to raise issues through public engagement. No immediate response from the Chief Minister’s office was available at the time of filing this report.