Funds for minorities gobbled up!

After politics over minorities, State government deprives them: BJP

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, March 28: The Congress government in Assam plays politics over minorities, but cares little for their development. In fact, the government is not above misappropriating Central funds earmarked for the development of minorities. The Assam BJP Minority Morcha has leveled this allegation against the Tarun Gogoi government, pointing to “large-scale misappropriation” of funds released by the Planning Commission under the Multi-sectoral Development Programme.

Addressing the media here on Saturday, Morcha president Mominul Awal said, “The Planning Commission released Rs 703 crore to the State government under the Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) and of the total amount released, only Rs 250 crore was spent by the State government. But the government has no records of the remaining amount of Rs 453 crore,” adding, “A large-scale misappropriation of the MsDP fund was done by the State government.”

The fund released by the Planning Commission under the MsDP is meant for use by the State’s Minority Development Board, Minority Development Fince Corporation and Directorate of Char Areas Development. “These three units of the State government have failed to show any records of the remaining MsDP amount. This points at massive misappropriation of MsDP fund by the State government.”

Awal alleged that the Congress government in the State indulges in politics over minority related issues, but does not care about their development. “The MsDP is being implemented in only 15 districts of the State. Why are other districts not included in the MsDP? The Chief Minister must institute an enquiry into it,” Awal demanded.

The Morcha also demanded that the House Committee, formed by the State government to enquire into the details of properties owned by the Wakf Board in Assam, should make its report public by publishing a white paper in the ongoing budget session of the Assembly.

The Morcha president said the Wakf Board has a property of Rs 50,000 crore in the State.