Reshuffle a let-down for NE: Gogoi
Source: The Sangai Express / TNN

Guwahati, July 07 2016 : Former chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet reshuffle did not reflect the NDA ' s promise of prioritizing the northeast.

Following the induction of four-time BJP MP from Assam Rajen Gohain as Union minister of state for railways, Gogoi said people of the state were expecting a Cabinet rank and not junior minister.

He added that more representation from the northeast would help highlight certain issues pertaining to the region more effectively.

"We are disheartened that only one name was included in the Cabinet reshuffle and that too in the rank of a junior minister.

The NDA government should have included someone from the state in the Cabinet rank.

Also, there is no one from other NE states.

During the tenure of past Congress governments at the Centre, many from Assam, as well other NE states, served as Cabinet ministers and minister of states," said Gogoi.

"We know the limitation of a minister of state.

Someone from the state should have been given the rank of a cabinet minister as the NDA has been promising to giving top priority to the northeast," added Gogoi.

Gogoi, who served as three-time chief minister from 2001 to 2016, also criticized the BJP-led state government for increasing VAT by 1% on at least 127 items.

"Instead of curbing price rise of essential commodities, the government has increased VAT.

This is a big blow to the common people," said Gogoi.

Terming the Centre' plan to auction 12 discovered small oil fields (DSF) in the state as a move towards privatization, Gogoi said it will go against the interest of the state.

"Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan recently said these 12 DSF have hydrocarbon potential of 21 million metric tonnes.

This is a big volume.

Then why public sector oil companies are not engaged in these oil fields?," argued Gogoi.

He said even during UPA's time, he raised the issue of hydrocarbon extraction from these fields with public sector oil companies.

He added that his demand for oil production from these fields virtually went unheeded.

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