APCC president Ripun Bora throws a slew of queries

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: APCC (Assam Pradesh Congress Committee) president Ripun Bora has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi as many as 24 questions ahead of the latter's visit to Jerenga Pathar in Sivasagar district.

Talking to the media at Rajiv Bhawan here on Thursday, Bora said that the BJP, infamous for betraying the people of the State, has insulted the sacrifice of Sati Jaymati by holding such a rally at historic Jerenga Pathar.

Bora asked the Prime Minister as to how many new industries his government has set up in Assam after the cancellation of the Northeast Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy.

He said the present NDA government at the Centre did away with the 90:10 funding pattern and special status to the States in the Northeast for which Assam has to incur a loss of Rs 7,000-9,000 crore yearly. Why has he done it?

Bora also asked the Prime Minister as to why he has made all to bring Bangladeshis to the country and the State through the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act). "This is despite his promise to make Assam free from Bangladeshis by May 16, 2014. Why did he do it?" He questioned.

The government at the Centre has kept the issue of foreigners alive by opting not to make the final NRC public, he said, and added, "Why has his government done it?"

"This government did promise to give ST status to six ethnic communities of the State – Moran, Mottok, Tai Ahom, Tea Tribe, Chutia and Koch-Rajbongshis. When will it keep the promise?" He sald.

"Why has the Centre stopped the Backward Regions' Grant Fund? Has Guwahati become a smart city as promised? Why hasn't the Centre released Rs 17,000 to 20,000 crore GST returns to Assam? Why has the Centre cut 60 per cent of the flood management fund for Assam, besides reduction in SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund)? Why hasn't a single penny of the NDRF (National Disaster Response Fund) been released to Assam since 2014? Is this the NDA government's concern for Assam? Clarify as to when an Express Highway on either side of the Brahmaputra and the Jorhat-Majuli bridge will be constructed? The BJP Government has sold as many as 27 oilfields of Assam. Is this not looting the resources of the State through the involvement of private companies? The Kamakhya Railway Station and the Borjhar Airport have been privatized. Is this not looting of Assam's resources with the help of capitalists? The two papers mills were supposed to be revived. Hasn't the government done injustice to the people of the State by closing them? Has the India-Bangladesh border been sealed totally? How many foreigners have been deported from the State in the past six years? Let the Prime Minister make public as to how many jobs were created in the past six years in Assam in the backdrop of the government's promise to create job opportunities for two crore people?" These are some of the questions Bora threw for the Prime Minister to respond to.

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