Rijiju assures direct funding to territorial and autonomous councils

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, April 2: Union Minister of State for Home, Kiran Rijiju on Thursday assured that the Government of India would take effective measures for direct funding to territorial and autonomous councils of Assam for their meaningful economic development. He also assured the people of BTC region that the BJP would work for development of all communities ensuring security of the people.

Rijiju attended campaign meetings of BJP in Kokrajhar and Gossaigaon in the district on Thursday for the BTC elections to be held on April 8. Addressing a huge public gathering, Rijiju said the BJP for the first time had participated in BTC election. “If the BJP comes to power in the council election then the party will win the 2016 Assembly elections in the State,” he said adding that the BJP had not got a chance to rule the State since Independence.

Rijiju said Assam had a number of problems from unemployment to militancy which had not been solved by the Congress government. Development was meaningless if there was no security, he added. The BJP-ruled States in India were progressing well in all spheres. He also referred to Manipur where the local youths were forced to join militant outfits due to lack of job opportunities and underdevelopment. He said the youths who had joined the militant organizations had been killed by the security forces and thus the militancy-prone States were losing their youths. He assured that the BJP would overcome all the problems with comprehensive policies if it came to power.

Rijiju said the BJP would never encourage commul hatred if voted to power. The BTC was created during the Atal Behari Vajpayee-led NDA government for the development of the region and the then Deputy Prime Minister LK Advasni also took keen interest for bringing economic development by giving administrative power and development package but the leaders in the council had failed to deliver their promises. “We need political revolution in the State for progress,” he said.

Rijiju further said, “I will work out for the all-round development of the BTC and other autonomous councils adopting two outlines that will include direct funding to territorial and autonomous councils of Assam and regular inquiry over the implementation of projects or schemes for the people.” He said that there had been complaints of receiving less fund against the population pattern by the councils. He also said action would be taken against the individuals who were found to be involved in corrupt practices if the direct funding started. He said the Bodos had tural talent in sports and there were many tiol and intertiol players that had brought laurels for the State and the country but the council had no good sport infrastructure to develop the budding talents. He said the BJP would develop sports in the BTC and also provide security to all people.

On the illegal immigrant issue, Rijiju cautioned people to remain vigilant against illegal influx that had posed serious threat to the interl security and integrity.

The BJP candidate from Bargaon Monoj Kr. Brahma was also the president of BPF Youth Wing before joining the BJP. He said it was clear that the BJP would form the government in BTC. He added that only the BJP would be able to bring good governce in BTC besides restoration of peace and security to people. He alleged that the Congress did not tackle the militant outfits with iron hands but used to kill local innocent youths by branding them as militants but the BJP government in New Delhi had launched a crackdown on the NDFB (S) in 10 days and innocent youths did not get killed. He also alleged that the BPF was being run by contractors.

The BJP meeting which was held at Rajmela field in the heart of Kokrajhar town was also attended by the candidates of Salakati-Maloti Rani rzary, Dotma-Bibhuti Borgoyary, Fakiragram-Dilip Barman, Deborgaon-Samarendra Brahma and Baokhungri-Raj Kumar Brahma.