Does Assam have special status or not?

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, July 20: A debate on whether special category state status is still in force for Assam or not took place in the assembly on Wednesday with Opposition members seeking clarification from the State government on the issue.

It may be mentioned that State Fince minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday had said that Assam, like earlier, is getting Central funds for different schemes in 90:10/80:20 ratio, thereby indirectly hinting at that special category status to the State is being continued.

But the Opposition members rapped the State government over the issue, referring to Union Minister Arun Jaitley’s categorical comment in Parliament on Tuesday that no special category status would be given to any state. Congress MLA Ajanta Neog demanded that a White Paper be published by the BJP on the issue.