Assam Congress President and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Friday came down heavily on the Assam Government’s recent decision to grant arms licenses to civilians residing in border and remote areas.

Gogoi termed the policy “highly condemnable” and accused the ruling BJP government of promoting a strategy that prioritises weapons over the essential needs of the people.

Speaking to the media, Gogoi said, “People of Assam want water, employment, education, and medical facilities, not guns.” He argued that the controversial move, instead of protecting citizens, may lead to an increase in fake encounters, citing recent Supreme Court criticism over alleged police excesses in Assam.

Gogoi warned that such a policy could be misused to arm workers aligned with the BJP and RSS, potentially endangering innocent businessmen and shopkeepers in the region.

“Under the new policy, more fake encounetrs can take place. The honest shopkeepers there, the businessmen there will face difficulties in the days to come. All these guns will go to BJP and RSS workers. The current government has made a highly condemnable policy. They should roll-back the policy,” said Gogoi.

The criticism follows a May 29 Cabinet decision under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to approve a Special Scheme for Grant of Arms Licenses.

The initiative targets original inhabitants and indigenous Indian citizens in vulnerable and border areas, with the stated goal of enhancing personal security and deterring unlawful threats.

Defending the decision, CM Sarma claimed the policy would empower communities to safeguard themselves in high-risk zones. The policy was approved during a cabinet meeting held at the Lok Sewa Bhawan in Guwahati.

In the same meeting, the Assam cabinet sanctioned a 250 crore proposal to transform 34 polytechnics and 43 government ITIs into Centres of Excellence in partnership with Tata Technologies, aiming to bolster skill development and employment.

Additionally, the Assam Cabinet approved the renaming of several key state institutions to honour the legacy of the state’s distinguished personalities. The Sarusajai Sports Complex will now be known as the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex, while Mangaldoi Stadium has been renamed Raja Dharma Narayan Stadium.

Additionally, the State Institute of Panchayat and Rural Development will henceforth be called the Golap Borbora State Institute of Panchayat and Rural Development.