No fund cut, Gogoi has failed, now finding excuses: Jaitley

BJP’s Vision Document for Assam targets illegal

migrants, promises all-round development

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, March 25: Refuting allegations of fund cut to the State by the tiol Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, Union Fince minister Arun Jaitley today claimed that Assam will get 148 per cent more funds in 2016-2020 compared to 2011-2015 due to higher tax devolution of 42 per cent as against 32 per cent earlier.

Assam, Jaitley said, will get Rs 1,43,239 crore as tax devolution as recommended by the 14th Fince Commission as against Rs 57,870 crore during the 13th Fince Commission.

The Fince minister pointed out there is a constitutiol mechanism for awarding funds to states. "The Fince Commission decides how much funds states should get, taking into account various parameters. The Central government will ensure that each penny awarded by the Fince Commission is released," he said.

Taking a swipe at the Tarun Gogoi government, Jaitley said: "A failed government is trying to find excuses where none exists. There is a desire for change which is sweeping the State. People of Assam are tired of slogans, they want development. The youth here crave for growth. The core strength of our alliance is the youth here, and the youth is leading this campaign for change."

Jaitley also said the 90:10 funding pattern has been restored in almost all schemes in the Northeast, barring one or two schemes.

Meanwhile, blaming the Congress-led Assam government for continuing influx from Bangladesh, the BJP on Friday assured the people it would end the problem of infiltration, detect and deport illegal migrants as well as seal the India-Bangladesh border.

Senior party leader Arun Jaitley gave this assurance here after releasing the party's Vision Document for 2016-25, saying: "Our main emphasis will be on infiltration. The Congress has all along been encouraging illegal migration in Assam for their vote bank politics. However, if the BJP is voted to power in Assam, we are going to end the influx from the neighboring country by sealing the intertiol border between the two countries."

"In last 15 years, the Congress government failed to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Assam. However, our priority will be to end infiltration. We are going to seal the Indo-Bangla border within a stipulated time to solve the problem," he said.

"The Congress has also been trying to destroy and change the demography of Assam by encouraging influx. Although the Congress has been in power for many years in Assam, yet the State government has taken no action to curb the problem," he said.

Jaitley said the Vision Document 2016-25 is a roadmap prepared by the BJP for ensuring overall development of the State.

"A series of dialogues were organized by the party with the people of Assam in different parts of the State. It has got a proper roadmap for each and every problem of the State, including unemployment and job creation, agricultural skill development, transport, highways, rural roads, extension of railway, air connectivity, youth and tea tribes," he said, adding "it includes everything that is required for the State's overall development."

The Vision Document promises to implement the Assam Accord in letter and spirit, protect xatras and other religious, cultural and ecological land from infiltrators, evict encroachers, set up villages of ex-servicemen along the Indo-Bangla border and scrutinize the citizenship of all suspected residents of the State in conformity with the upgraded NRC.

The BJP has assured the people in its Vision Document of ecting a law to deal firmly with industries, businesses, small and medium enterprises or any other agencies employing infiltrators.