Assam Minister Atul Bora Demands Flood Relief Funds Like Bihar

Guwahati (Assam) [India], July 24: Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, who is also the president of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), expressed his dissatisfaction over the allocation of Rs 11,500 crores for flood relief in Bihar. He stated that he would demand similar assistance for Assam.

Atul Bora said, “Today, we had long discussions with colleagues. By-elections in five constituencies and Panchayat elections are close, and we have decided to reform our grassroots units before August 31. Nirmala Sitharaman Ji has allotted Rs 11,500 crores for Bihar for floods. The people of Assam are upset, and our party officials have said that we should also raise our voice and put forth this demand before the central government to provide us with an amount like Bihar because flood erosion is a big issue here as well.”

He mentioned that the state government, under the leadership of Himanta Biswa Sarma, is doing whatever needs to be done. “We have expectations from the central government and hence at the party meeting, we have decided to raise our voice,” he added.

Ahead of the by-elections for five assembly constituencies and Panchayat polls in the state, a crucial executive meeting of NDA’s partner party AGP was held at the party headquarters in Guwahati on Wednesday. Several key decisions were taken during the meeting, including strengthening the party organization and holding a 3-day-long workshop.

Atul Bora told ANI that the extended executive meeting of the party was held today in the presence of senior party leaders and district presidents. The AGP president also said that in the upcoming Panchayat polls in the state, there will be no political party candidates. “We have decided to find at least two suitable candidates in each Panchayat ward. This time, political parties can’t field their own candidates with their party symbols in the upcoming Panchayat polls in the state. We also don’t know about the women’s reservation. So, we have decided to find at least two suitable candidates in each Panchayat ward,” Atul Bora said.

He further announced that a 3-day-long workshop will be held in Guwahati in August. On the other hand, AGP will demand the Union government provide assistance to Assam to tackle the flood and erosion problems of the state. “We will demand the Centre to provide assistance to Assam to tackle flood and erosion problems,” Atul Bora said.

Earlier, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget speech in Lok Sabha said, “Bihar has frequently suffered from floods, many of them originating outside the country. Plans to build flood control structures in Nepal are yet to progress. Our government, through the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program and other sources, will provide financial support for projects with an estimated cost of Rs 11,500 crores such as the Kosi-Mechi intra-state link and 20 other ongoing and new schemes including barrages, river pollution abatement, and irrigation projects.”