Union ministers misleading people of Assam on fund issue: CM

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today accused the Union ministers visiting the state of misleading the people on allocation of funds by the Centre.
"The Union ministers visiting the state should not mislead the people that Central funds are flowing unhindered to Assam," Gogoi said in a statement.
Though the visiting dignitaries have been claiming that Central funds are flowing to the state, the moot question remained where the funds existed, he asked.
"Not to speak of 'adequate' funds being released under Centrally Sponsored Schemes, there has been a slash in the funds, thus adversely affecting the common man," Gogoi added.

The chief minister said though the visiting Union ministers are making tall claims that funding pattern of 90:10 under Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) are continuing, the fact remains that it is the state government which has been pleading for continuation of the Special Category Status.
"If the Central ministers really want to do something for Assam, then it is so far so good. But providing lip service won't work," he added.

He said the Chief Ministers' Sub Group of NITI Aayog, headed by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, is yet to submit its recommendations on rationalisation of schemes and restructuring of funding pattern under CSS to the Prime Minister.

Gogoi said that he had taken up the matter with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for continuation of the Special Category Status to Assam and urged him not to reduce its share in the Central schemes.
The chief minister said the state government has selected three suitable sites for setting up of a full-fledged AIIMS and submitted its proposal to the Centre for taking the final call.