launching a new attack on the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government at the Centre, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Saturday released a White Paper on State finances up to 2015-16 and said that Assam not only flourished during the Congress rule but it is the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre that cared more for the backward State than the NDA Government.
Releasing the white paper on State finance, Gogoi came up with financial statistics and urged the BJP Government at the centre to prove his statistics wrong.
Reeling out vital statistics, Gogoi said the average fund transfer rose from Rs3,789 crore per year during the NDA regime (1998-99 to 2003-04) to Rs12,760 crore per year during the UPA rule (2004-05 to 2013-14) resulting in a quantum jump of almost four times compared to the previous period.
“While the State received Rs22,734 crore during 1998-99 to 2003-04, it bagged Rs1,27,595 crore between 2004-05 to 2013-14 during the UPA Government. The State Government, due to its Special Category Status, received funds from the Centre by way of increased transfer in the form of Central Assistance to State Plan including Block Grants and 100 per cent Central support for various Centrally Sponsored Schemes,” he added.
“When our Government in Assam took over the reins in May 2001, the State was going through unprecedented financial crisis,” he said.