GUWAHATI, Nov 23 - Claiming that Central fund allocation to the State decreased following the BJP�s coming to power, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today dared the Central Government to a debate with him on television.
The Chief Minister, who was addressing a press conference, asserted that he would demonstrate in Parliament on the neglect meted out to Assam by the Centre.
�I challenge the BJP to have a debate with me on television on the issue of fund allocation to Assam. I will go to Parliament and demonstrate against this step-motherly treatment to Assam,� he said.
Gogoi accused the BJP Government of maintaining double standards, saying that on the one hand it talked of inclusive growth and federalism, and on the other it wilfully curtailed development funds to the State. Even the special category State status long enjoyed by Assam has been withdrawn, he added.
�Regional disparity will widen following withdrawal of the special category State status to Assam, as also the choking of funds for various development projects. We want the 90:10 Central-State funding pattern to be restored,� he said.
The Chief Minister added that Assam had been suffering discrimination and injustice in the matter of oil royalty for the past one decade.
It may be mentioned that the Tarun Gogoi Government and the DoNER Ministry of late has been engaged in a war of words regarding fund allocation.
