The Assam Government on Wednesday defended its move to boycott a meeting called by Union Minister of State for Sports Sarbananda Sonowal to review the major road projects in Assam and said that the Union Minister tried to encroach upon the State’s right and power by calling the meeting. Assam Government Spokesman and State Agriculture Minister Nilamoni Sen Deka on Wednesday said that the Minister’s move was against the rules and that his move is politically motivated ahead of the September 13 bypolls for three legislative Assembly constituencies in Assam. Assam’s Public Works Development Minister Ajanta Neog and officials of the department yesterday skipped the meeting called by Sonowal, which is scheduled to be held at the Assam Administrative Staff College here.
Sonowal later told journalists that he was entrusted the responsibility by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to hold the review meeting after the lok Sabha MPs from Assam had drawn the attention of Gadkari on slow progress of roads and highway projects in the state.
“The meeting called by Sonowal is unauthorized. There is no authorization by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways to organize the review the meeting. There are set rules and protocol and a minister must follow this,” said Deka while adding that only the Prime Minister can delegate such responsibilities to the minister of another department with proper information to the concerned state chief minister.
“If Mr. Gadkari wanted Sonowal to hold a review meeting, at least he should have written it to the Assam Chief Minister following the protocol. Sonowal should first study the rules and protocol and then organise this kinds of meeting,” he said. Sonowal is only trying to get political mileage out of the issue as by polls are due for three legislative assembly constituencies in Assam on September 13, he said adding that this kinds of attitude on the part of the Central Ministers will affect the Centre-State relations.
“It is not that we do not want to cooperate the Centre. Earlier also several Central ministers came to Assam and we have cooperated. The DoNER minister recently held a review meeting and the Chief Minister himself was present there. Tomorrow Union Environment and Forest minister is coming to visit the state and we are there to cooperate,” said Deka while adding that everything should follow the set rules and protocol.
The Assam agriculture minister also asked what has Sonowal done to develop the sports or for skill development in Assam even if the BJP led NDA government had already completed over 100 days in office.