New BJP braveheart Himanta misleading people: Rakibul

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Dec 17: Countering Himanta Biswa Sarma for his statement where he said that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is misleading the people of Assam on the 90:10 pattern, minister Rakibul Hussain on Thursday said that despite knowing everything it is Himanta who is trying to mislead the people on special State status and 90:10 pattern.

Addressing a press meet on Thursday, Rakibul Hussain said, “Himanta Biswa Sarma is trying to fabricate the entire issue. The Centre’s current stand will impact the farmers and Below Poverty Line (BPL) people of the State, despite being aware of it, he is trying to divert the issue for political inclitions. In September the government of India informed that the funding pattern of Indira Awas Yoja will be made 50:50 and gave us a target to build 183171 houses in the fincial year 2015-16. However, recently the government has sent another letter after its previous decision drew flakes, informing that the pattern will remain 90:10. But, the Central government has decreased the target and brought it down to 123193 houses for which now around 60000 people will be deprived of a house.”

“Earlier 13 districts of Assam were covered under Backward Region Grant Fund, but now the Centre has delinked the entire scheme. Similarly, the Centre is not releasing fund against the Anpur scheme,” Hussain said.

He further said that for delinking some schemes which were in place earlier, many youths who were working as computer operators and accountants are now jobless.

Speaking about the MNREGA scheme, the minister said, “In the last fincial year our labour budget was Rs 1102 crore, but the Centre released only Rs 600 crore. In the current fincial year, the labour budget is Rs 1368 crore, but the government of India has released only Rs 502 crore till date.”

The minister also slammed the BJP government at Centre for taking anti-farmers stand. “Small and margil farmers are being deprived by the Centre. Earlier we use to give 50 per cent subsidy to poor farmers at the time of buying tractor or power tiller. But now, the Centre has revised it and as a result the farmers now need to pay 100 per cent of the amount and the 50 per cent subsidy is paid only after submitting the bills. The irony here is, even when the we used to pay the 50 per cent in advance, it was very difficult for farmers to arrange the remaining 50 per cent, now from where they will mage the entire amount in advance.”

Hitting out at Himanta Biswa Sarma, Hussain said, “The new braveheart of BJP, Himanta Biswa Sarma is aware of all these things, but he is manipulating them and misleading the people of the State.”