Jorhat, Aug 8: Allegations of irregularities in the distribution of the Assam government’s Rs 15,000 flood relief assistance triggered a protest in Sivasagar on Saturday.The demonstration, organised by the Raijor Dal in front of the Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner’s office, saw flood-affected residents claim that several genuine beneficiaries had been left out while some non-affected people had received the aid. Protesters also alleged that the relief amount had been credited twice to some bank accounts, while many deserving families were yet to receive the assistance. A flood-affected resident said his family had suffered losses but is yet to receive any assistance. “We have still not received a rupee from the announced Rs 15,000 financial aid,” he said.The protest, however, drew criticism from another section of Sivasagar residents, who accused political groups of using the flood crisis to further their interests while the district is still recovering from the disaster.“Doing politics at a time of crisis is condemnable. The government deserves acknowledgment for announcing Rs 15,000 financial aid for flood-affected families,” a resident said. He questioned the nature of the protest and said resources should instead be directed towards helping displaced families. “Had they provided a tarpaulin sheet as large as that banner, a displaced family could have slept without rain seeping into their shelter,” he said. The resident also alleged that people from outside Sivasagar had joined the agitation to politicise the flood situation. “Is bringing flood-hit families onto the streets a way of providing relief or pushing them into a deeper crisis? The people living in Sivasagar are the real stakeholders, not outsiders,” he said. Another resident accused a section of protesters of seeking political mileage from the situation and said the focus should remain on helping flood victims. “This is a time to help people who are struggling to survive. There will be enough time for politics later. Right now, our focus should be on supporting those affected by the floods,” he said. A third resident said political mobilisation could further aggravate an already difficult situation in the district. “The district has suffered enough. Creating such an atmosphere is neither necessary nor acceptable,” he said. The competing claims come days after Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma acknowledged that around 18,000 flood-affected families in Upper Assam had not received the Rs 15,000 assistance because of bank account-related errors. Sarma had said the government was working to rectify the discrepancies and assured that beneficiaries who could not receive the money through bank transfers would instead be provided assistance through cheques or bank drafts. He had maintained that no eligible flood-affected family would be deprived of the announced assistance. The controversy over the relief distribution comes as Sivasagar and other parts of Upper Assam continue to deal with the aftermath of the recent floods, with questions over the delivery of assistance adding to the wider debate over relief and rehabilitation.