Himanta attacks Congress in budget discussion

Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attacked Congress and its leader Ajanta Neog during the budget discussion today, leading to a walk-out from the former minister saying the charges made against her were personal.
Sarma's speech for concluding the budget discussion was a full-on attack on Congress and its policies during the past 15 years.
"Ajanta Neog (had) said the budget took us to a dreamland. If we can take Assam to a dreamland away from all the killings for five years, what is the problem?" Sarma asked.
Unlike Congress, he said, his government wants to stop politics over mosquito nets, yarns and blanket distribution.

"Congress gave fishes to poor and at times even prepared fishes for them. But they never taught them how to catch fishes," he said, adding that the budget this year was aimed at teaching people how to catch fishes.
On Neog's point that maintenance of existing medical colleges is more important than setting up of new ones, Sarma said the previous Congress government, of which he was also a part, too focused on creating more such institutes.

"We will complete 10 medical colleges during our time. This will result in producing at least 1,000 doctors every year. You (Neog) should not change your stand after shifting to that (opposition) side," he added.

At this point, Neog interrupted Sarma saying "Whatever I said during the discussion, it was with a positive approach. This is not the way to talk. This is a personal attack."
Stating that she has not changed her position after being in Opposition, Neog walked out in protest against the charges.
Sarma alleged that Congress does not want to see beyond former prime ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh.
"They say that we should thank Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh for the gas-cracker project. Should we not thank the martyrs of Assam Agitation? Gas-cracker and Tezpur University are the result of Assam Agitation," he claimed.

Sarma said as minorities constitute nearly 30 per cent of Assam's population, there is no need for a separate Minority Development fund.
"There is no need for appeasing the minority. We want to stop this minority-majority game. We need special attention to scheduled castes and tribes because of 5,000 years of discrimination," he said.
Sarma said HUDCO will provide Rs 6-lakh loan to government staff for building their houses.
On a flood relief package from Centre, he said the state government has Rs 600 crore and it is enough for providing relief to people.