Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today accused Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi of doing "cheap politics" over the flood situation and said the state government has "enough" funds to tackle the problem at present.
"(Chief Minister) Tarun Gogoi is doing cheap politics over the flood problem. The state government is unnecessarily blaming the Centre of not releasing money. I appeal the CM of not doing cheap politics over floods. We all should behave humanly," the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports said.
He claimed the state government was given Rs 1,655 crore as part of the SDRF fund at the beginning of this financial year.
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"Out of this, Rs 1,425 crore are still unused. But the state government is asking more money and is giving excuses that there is no money just to avoid responsibility. We request the state government to issue a white paper on the SDRF fund and its utilisation," Sonowal said.
He said the Rs 207 crore second installment of the SDRF fund, which was announced to be released immediately by DONER Minister Jitendra Singh last month, was not released yet "as the state has enough money."
Sonowal said a "high-level" team from the Union Water Resources Ministry would visit Assam soon to evaluate the situation and suggest measures.
"I have already submitted a memorandum to the Home Minister and Prime Minister about the situation and have sought a permanent solution to the problem," he added.
Talking about the SDRF fund, BJP MP Ramen Deka said the BJP would release a white paper on the utilisation of the money "at an appropriate time."
"Why the state government is not using this money? Has the government diverted the fund to some other work? It is a big question. May be, it has been used for their propaganda," Deka said.
