Assam CM lists out achievements of 14 years in office

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday listed out the achievements of the Congress government in the last 14 years in the state, saying the state was in a poor condition before he took charge.

The Congress government is planning a two-day massive celebration at the Sarusojai Stadium in Guwahati on Saturday and Sunday on completion of Gogoi's 14 years in office.

The chief minister -- who has been at the helm for three consecutive terms since 2001 -- said the state has made considerable progress in all sectors after his party assumed office.

"People in Assam know the condition of the state prior to 2001. The economy was in a shambles and the law and order situation was worsening. People were scared to walk out of their homes during night," Gogoi told the media.

"The Asom Gana Parishad government had left the state's economy in a very bad shape. There were huge overdrafts and government employees were not given salaries for months. From 2001 to 2005, we took care to stabilise the economy, and it was only after 2005 that we took up developmental activities," he said.

Gogoi said the number of civilians killed in 2001 in Assam was 1,500.

"However, last year only 154 civilians were killed. Most areas of Assam are peaceful except Bodoland and most of the civilian killings took place in Bodoland due to clashes," he added.

Gogoi added that 85 lakh people got employment in Assam in the last 14 years, and the per capita income of the state that was only Rs.13,059 in 2001, has grown to Rs.49,480 now.

"The state's GDP was Rs.38,313 crore in 2001 compared to Rs.1,62,652 crore now," he pointed out.