BONGAIGAON, Nov 4 � The Union Government has already decided to enlist six indigenous communities of the State as Scheduled Tribes, if the State Government forwards the required recommendation soon in this regard. Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Sports and Youth Affairs, Skill Development and Entrepreneursship, Sarbananda Sonowal said this while addressing a meeting, organised by the Bongaigaon district unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday to felicitate him at the Barpara public field in Bongaigaon town.
�Once these six groups get tribal status (with their special rights), the land of State would be protected from encroachment by illegal migrants from Bangladesh�, Sonowal said.
�Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government in the State has failed to act against the Muslim fundamentalist groups�, Sonowal alleged and blamed the All India United Democratic Front and the Congress Government for jihadi forces widening their bases in the State.
Funds to the tune of Rs 63, 000 crore have been allocated for the development of Northeast States in this budget, but it is regrettable that the State Governments have not yet taken the initiative to use the central funds to implement development schemes in the State, he said. He expressed his unhappiness over the non-completion of the thermal power project, which is under construction at Salakati in Chirang district, and non-revival of Ashok Paper Mill in Jogighopa area in Bongaigaon district due to the negative attitude of the State Government.
Praising the work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi within these five months, Sonowal said that by forming a Special Investigation Team for bringing back black money kept in foreign banks, Prime minister Modi has conveyed a message to the country and the world that the ruling system in the country has been strengthened in the interest of the common citizens. Sonowal also said that to uplift the poor of the country, Modi had launched the Prime Minister�s Jana Dhan Yojana and inspired by Mahatma Gandhi�s ideology, he had initiated a cleanliness drive to give the country a new look and identity.
Before attending the meeting at Barpara, Sonowal inaugurated a quiz competition, �Bharat Ko Jano�, organised by the Birjhora unit of the Bharat Vikas Parishad at the auditorium of Bongaigaon District Library.
The Bongaigaon district unit of the BJP in a memorandum to the minister demanded better government facilities in health service, drinking water supply, university level education in the district and sports infrastructure. The Bharatiya Janata Yuba Morcha, youth wing of the BJP, demanded that the IAS and IPS officers check rampant corruption and illegal activities in the district. The BJP Bongaigaon district�s Minority Cell in its memorandum demanded re-opening of the coal market in Jogighopa area so that minority labourers can survive.
