Gogoi-Sarbanda spar over Central funds

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, May 21: A war of words has begun between the Union minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Sarbanda Sonowal and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi over the use of Central funds in the State.

Attacking Gogoi, Sonowal on Wednesday said the Assam government should make public the details about the use of funds provided by the Central government so far. “The State government has so far failed to maintain transparency and accountability in using Central funds,” Sonowal said.

Hitting back, Gogoi on Thursday said, “I will furnish all the details about fund utilization in the State, but the Central government in turn must clarify how much funds it has given to Assam this year compared to the previous UPA government at the Centre,” adding, “On several occasions, I have written to the present Union Fince Minister about the fund cut issue.”

Slamming Sonowal, the Chief Minister queried how many youths from Assam  were given training in skill development by the Central government when Sonowal was the skill development minister.

Gogoi further said, “The State government gave Rs 2 crore to the Assam Mountaineering Team which went on an expedition to Mount Everest recently. But the Sports Ministry which is headed by Sonowal gave the team only Rs 20 lakh. Being the Sports minister, Sonowal should have given more funds to the Assam Mountaineering Team.”