Cash strapped Assam Congress Govt, sanctions jamboree to celebrate 14 years in power

GUWAHATI: Amidst intensive debate over achievements by the 14-year-old Congress government in Assam, the state has planned elaborate celebrations on May 23 and 24 to highlight the government’s achievement in various fields.

The Congress government in Assam has recently completed 14 years. The government has asked employees of various departments to participate. This has created a controversy.

Assam Education minister, Sarat Barkataky told ET, ”Since this is government function we want maximum participation from state government employees. There is nothing compulsory about it.”

He rubbished reports that the Education department has issued orders asking the block elementary education officer to bring 100 teachers from each block to attend the state government function in Guwahati.

Opposition parties have termed the anniversary bash as a waste of public money at a time when the state is facing a financial crunch.

BJP slammed the Congress government and said that instead of taking austerity measures, the government is taking off with grand plans of celebration.

BJP spokesperson Shiladitya Dev said, “At a time when the state government is facing fund crunch and not able to pay salaries to its employees, it is going to celebrate the fourth anniversary of its third term. This is pathetic.”

He added that the Tarun Gogoi-led government is directionless and without any vision. “The fund crunch in the state is owing to poor fiscal management of the state government. For 10 years, the UPA government ruled in the Centre and suddenly Gogoi is blaming the one-year-old NDA government for the squeeze in funds for different schemes to Assam.”

Already, CM Gogoi has launched a publicity blitzkrieg highlighting the achievements of the governments in the last 14 years.

Gogoi said, “We came to power in 2001, which was the worst period in Assam’s history. The law-and-order situation had collapsed at that time. Development activities had come to a halt. Government staff were not paid salaries. People, even in Guwahati, were not able to venture out of home at night. Militant groups were having a free run. And now the situation has changed.”

Gogoi added that 85 lakh jobs, including four lakh government jobs, had been created since he first came to power.