Assam government skips meeting on road projects called by Union minister

GUWAHATI: The Assam government has alleged that the Centre was trying to ‘dilute’ the federal polity by ‘intruding’ in the state’s domain and undermining the division of power as per the Constitution.

A war of words has broken out between the BJP and Congress following the decision of the Assam government to skip a review meeting of Union minister of state Sarbananda Sonowal.

Sonowal had called a meeting on Tuesday to review the road projects of National Highway Authority of India and rural development. However public works department minister Ajanta Neog and other officials kept away from the programme. Assam’s agriculture minister and spokesperson, Nilamoni Sen Deka, said, “this is unauthorised intrusion by the Sonowal.

He (Sonowal) does not have the mandate to do so.” Sonowal is the minister of state for sports. Deka added that Sonowal did not have the authority to convene and preside over meetings which did not concern his department. “Such authorisation and delegation of authority to conduct meetings involving other ministers has to come from the prime minister.”

Sonowal said he was entrusted by the Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari to review the road projects of Assam but Deka alleged that Sonowal was indulging in cheap publicity and blaming the state government for stalling development.

“This is nothing but political vendetta eyeing the assembly polls of 2016. The minister must study the Constitution properly and refrain from encroaching into the state’s domain and adhere to the division of power.”