Act against jehadi threat, Gogoi to Dispur

No flood relief for Assam, but

Rs 20,000 crore to clean up Ganga, says former CM

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, July 23: Former chief minister Tarun Gogoi said the Assam government should take all possible measures to keep the people of the State safe from fundamentalist threat following rise in ISIS-sponsored activities in Bangladesh.

Addressing a press conference at Rajiv Bhavan here on Saturday, Gogoi said fundamentalist forces like the JMB have reportedly set up bases in the State and it's a dangerous sign, adding that the State government must increase security cover all over the State. All the vulnerable areas in terms of clandestine terror activities in the State should be identified and the Central government should help Assam in this regard, he added.  

The former chief minister also stressed on the issue of a number of youths from Assam going missing, as they might have come under the influence of terror groups.

On the issue of present Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal's security, Gogoi said, "CM Sonowal should increase his security cover if there is any threat to his life." On his own Z-plus security cover, Gogoi said, "I didn't seek the Z-plus security cover. It was the Centre that provided me with increased security. If they want to withdraw it, I don't have any problem."  

On the flood issue, Gogoi said the Central government hasn't provided any fund to the State and should release earlier pending fund of Rs 12,000 crore. "While the State is reeling under floods, despite several reminders, the BJP government has not released a penny, but provided Rs 20,000 crore to clean Ganga," he said.

On the oilfield auction issue, the former chief minister said, "When oilfield auction was started in 1998, NDA government was there at the Centre." He, however, admitted that 19 oilfields were auctioned during his rule. "But I was opposed to auctioning and told the then PM Manmohan Singh that Assam wouldn't be benefitted from it," he claimed.

"The present government must make it clear that how many people got jobs when auctioning took place during my time and how much the State benefitted from the whole process," Gogoi said, countering the claim that the present oilfield auction will benefit the people of the State immensely.

He also slammed the Modi government for lack of development in Assam and failure in controlling price rise of essential commodities.