Centre withholding Rs 17,000 cr dues including oil royalty:

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today alleged that the Centre was withholding around Rs 17,000 crore dues, including oil royalty to the state, which he claimed was affecting the development programmes.
"Had the Centre not withheld around Rs 17,000 crore dues of oil royalty and other developmental funds meant for Assam, the state government could have pursued its development agenda more vigorously," Gogoi said in an official release.
The Centre's cut in funds for rural development schemes like AY and MGNREGA indicates NDA government's "anti-poor and pro-capitalists stance", he alleged.
Gogoi said though change in funding pattern and the resultant reduction in fund flow has an impact on the state's development, the Assam government is devising a mechanism to generate its independent sources of revenue.

"Irrespective of the Centre's indifferent attitude towards Assam and its people and reduction of developmental funds, the state government will continue to pursue welfare schemes along with its development agenda rigorously," he said.
(Reopens CAL2)

The three-time Chief Minister said Assam has many
problems like unemployment, flood, corruption and immigration.
"I hope that the new government will focus on them and we will also co-operate with them as a constructive opposition. In the sealing of border, 95 per cent work has already been completed. For sealing the river border, we had written to Centre earlier. We are blamed for foreigners issue. We will be now happy if the new government detects foreigners as soon as possible," he added.

Gogoi also disapproved new Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's statement during the poll campaigning that the base year to identify the foreigners should be advanced by 20 years.
"We do not support shifting the base of identifying foreigners to 1951 from 1971 at present. This is a settled issue between AASU, AGP and government. What is the point to unsettle it again?" he questioned.
Talking about Centre's responsibility towards the state, Gogoi hoped they will help Assam in every aspect.
"Without Centre's help, it is difficult for a poor state like Assam to progress. Sarbananda is lucky to have the support of the Prime Minister," he added.