Nothing new announced by Modi govt: Gogoi

Guwahati: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said Assam and other north eastern states had to fight for restoration of 90:10 funding pattern and there was nothing new in decisions by the Narendra Modi-led NDA government.

“We had to fight to get the 90:10 funding pattern restored. The Manmohan Singh-led UPA government had incorporated several flagship programmes but there is nothing new in the ones announced by the BJP-led government at the Centre,” Gogoi said.

The “slew of retrogressive steps” taken by the Modi government has affected the development process in Assam and other northeastern states, he said.

“We will not rest and continue our fight for our rights vis-a-vis restoration of the now suspended Special Category status and North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy,” he said.

Leave alone the special assiatnce to the states, the present government at the Centre has choked the flow of funds by drastically cuting down MGNREGA and other flagship programmes, the Chief Minister said.

Gogoi said his government would not be cowed down by such retrogressive steps and would continue implementation of policies and programmes with full vigour.

“Funds flow has been choked by the present central government but our government will continue implementing policies and programmes out of our own resources,” he said.