Raijor Dal president and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi criticised the Assam government for discontinuing subsidised ration items and demanded that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma fulfil his election promise of providing free mustard oil to ration card holders across the state.Addressing the media, Gogoi said the government should immediately restore subsidised salt, sugar and lentils that were recently withdrawn and also begin distributing the free one litre mustard oil that was promised during the election campaign. He alleged that the Chief Minister had repeatedly assured people at public meetings that beneficiaries of the ration scheme would receive free mustard oil along with subsidised essential commodities. According to Gogoi, many people, particularly women from economically weaker households, were encouraged by these promises and supported the government based on such assurances.
“The government should not only bring back the subsidised items but also provide the free one litre mustard oil that was promised to the people before the elections,” Gogoi said. The Sivasagar MLA accused the government of reversing its commitments after returning to power. He claimed that the decision to discontinue the subsidised items had affected a large number of families and amounted to a betrayal of the trust placed in the government by lakhs of women across Assam.”I, as the MLA of Sivasagar, demand that the government not only reinstates the subsidised items but also issues the free one litre mustard oil as promised. If the Chief Minister fails to do so, I will raise the matter strongly during the upcoming Assembly sessions and hold the government accountable for the promises made to the people,” Gogoi said.
The Assam government has discontinued the supply of subsidised salt, sugar and masoor dal under the ration scheme from June. Officials have stated that budgetary provisions for these items were available only up to May 2026. However, rice continues to be distributed under the public distribution system.Under the scheme, ration card holders were receiving salt at Rs 10 per kilogram, sugar at Rs 30 per kilogram and masoor dal at Rs 60 per kilogram. On average, a beneficiary family spent around Rs 100 to obtain these essential commodities. Reports suggest that nearly 70 lakh families across the state were benefiting from the scheme. The withdrawal of the subsidised items has drawn criticism from opposition parties, which argue that the move will increase the financial burden on low-income households already facing rising living costs. Referring to several public speeches made by the Chief Minister before the elections, Gogoi said the government had assured people that free mustard oil would be added to the ration package. He alleged that the administration was now moving away from that commitment and urged it to honour the promise made to voters.