We need more fund, not frequent visits of Union ministers: Gogoi

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, June 27: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said that the frequent visits of the Union ministers to Assam will not benefit the State, unless the Centre gives adequate fund for its development.

In a statement issued to the press today, the Chief Minister said that the regular visits of Central ministers to Assam are a new trait never witnessed since independence. But the State is not benefitted from their visits as they are paying only lip service.

The present Central Government has turned its back on the existing schemes and programmes.  Moreover, Assam and other North Eastern states are also hit by the cuts in fincial assistance from the Centre.

Chief Minister Gogoi also said that the Centre even denied the special category status to Assam and other NE states. These actions of the present Central Government will slow down the economic progress of the State, and in turn will adversely affect the poor and down-trodden people of Assam and NE States. He also said that the present Central Government’s step motherly attitude will deprive the youths of region from getting employment opportunities. “It seems that the visiting Union ministers, instead of extending helping hand to the State, are more interested in destabilizing the democratically elected State Government,” Gogoi added.