Centre lashes out at Gogoi govt for ‘sub-optimal performance’
NEW DELHI: The Modi government on Sunday lashed out at the Tarun Gogoi-led Assam government for its “sub-optimal performance” and accused the state of sitting on money sent for development in the state.
T he Centre blamed t he Congress gover nment that faces elections early next year for failing to complete the basic formalities necessary to get funds from Delhi.
“Apart from its sub-optimal performance”, an official statement by the Centre said the Assam had also withheld funds given for the two autonomous councils, Bodo Territorial Council and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council “for considerable periods”.
The provocation for the ministry of development of north eastern region’s statement on Sunday was an attempt by the Gogoi government to blame the ministry for a shoddy treatment for the state. Gogoi had also demanded a white paper on the ministry’s functioning.
The war of words comes against the backdrop of the two parties gearing up for the assembly elections in the state early next year. On Friday, the BJP had appointed union minister Sarbananda Sonowal to lead the state unit into the elections for the 126-seat assembly. The BJP has just five MLAs in the outgoing assembly.
In its statement, the Centre had released funds to t he state in many cases despite the state’s failure to complete the formalities.
“There are 151 projects, for which requisite documentation is yet to be received from it for released funds.... This has denied the public of the State the benefits of these projects,” the government said.