State Budget session begins on stormy note

Opposition parties disrupt Governor’s address; State GDP grows 6.7 per cent, per capita income increased 4.63 per cent

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, March 2: The first day of the 2015-16 Budget session of the Assam Assembly began on a stormy note on Monday with all the Opposition parties disrupting Governor PB Acharya from delivering his speech addressing the House.

Minutes after the Governor began his address, members of the AGP, the BJP and the AIUDF disrupted his speech, creating an uproar in the House, which ultimately forced the Governor to finish the 52-page address within few minutes. At the end of his speech, a visibly annoyed Governor thanked the Opposition members for their ‘cooperation’.

In his opening address, when the Governor started highlighting the State’s economic development, the Opposition MLAs were on their feet objecting to the claims made by the Governor. The Opposition members said that no economic development has taken place in Assam with the State government miserably failing in that front so far.

In his speech, the Governor said, “The State’s economy has grown steadily, registering an average growth rate of over 6 per cent in the last five years.”

On the law and order issue, he said, “Due to relentless action by the security forces and support of the people, there has been tremendous erosion in the strength and morale of the remaining militant groups. The December 23, 2014 carge perpetrated by terrorist groups in BTAD and Sonitpur districts, is an example of cowardly acts arising out of sheer desperation of such groups.” He added that the three counter insurgency and anti-terrorist schools functioning at Abhayapuri, Dergaon and Siloni are being upgraded to impart modern training to police forces to fight terrorists.

On the cross border infiltration issue, the Governor said, “Twenty eight border out posts (BOPs) and three tactical HQs have been proposed behind the BSF BOPs to check infiltration from Bangladesh.”

On the development of roads, bridges and highways in the State, the Governor said, “The government is implementing many schemes and projects for improvement of road network in the State. To eble sustaible construction — energy-efficient, green building concept is being introduced in all ongoing and future major building projects in the State.”

Later, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told reporters outside the Assembly that it is not proper to disrupt the Governor from delivering his speech on the floor of the Assembly. “The Governor’s statement on the State’s development was based on the report of the latest Economic Survey released by Union Fince Minister Arun Jaitley before the Union Budget day,” Gogoi said, adding, “The objections raised by the BJP to Governor’s statement on the State’s economic progress are quite surprising.”

Quoting figures from the Economic Survey, Gogoi said, “In both per capita income and GSDP growth rates, Assam performed better than last year. In the human development index front, Assam also performed better than some other states.”

According to the Chief Minister, the State’s per capita income has increased by 4.63 per cent than last year, compared to the all India average percentage of 2.70. Assam’s GSDP growth rate this year is 6.70 per cent compared to the all India GSDP growth rate of 6.68 per cent.