AAJSM alleges corruption in fund utilization meant for SC community

From a Correspondent

Jorhat, March 28: The Asom Anusuchit Jati Suraksha Manch (AAJSM), an organization representing Scheduled Caste (SC) people in the State, has appealed 40 lakh voters belonging to their community not to vote for Tarun Gogoi and his party for their alleged failure and rampant corruption in government funds meant for their community. The organization also alleged that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and his government had siphoned off about Rs 40,000 crore fund released by the Centre since 2001 to 2016.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, AAJSM general secretary Kamal Das said, “Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is an enemy of our community. Gogoi and his government, during their 15 years in power, had siphoned off about Rs 40,000 crore released by the Centre for the socio-economic development of our community. Now we appeal to 40 lakh SC people in the State to vote against Tarun Gogoi and his party in the ensuing polls.”

He added, “Gogoi was involved in rampant corruption of government funds meant for the development of SC people including education, electricity, water-supply, scholarship and other schemes worth Rs 1,000 crore per year. Moreover, the government has failed to fill up 33,000 vacant post reserved for the SC candidates since 2001. As a result thousands of people of our community have been deprived from government schemes in the 15 years, causing serious harm to us.”

Jayanta Das, joint secretary of the organization, also alleged that Tarun Gogoi and his government had failed to keep their promises made to the SC people in the State. “The Chief Minister announced Rs 2,00 crore for the development of SC people in 2011 and Rs 1,000 crore in 2015 for the development of our community, but the Chief Minister has failed to keep his promises due to some unknown reason,” he alleged.