Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Saturday said that there was a vast difference between the words and work of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre.
Referring to the central government’s announcement of hiking rail fares, Gogoi said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had promised to bring down prices prior to the Lok Sabha polls, but chose to “hike the prices of railway tickets and freight charges, which is going to affect states like Assam”.
“Before the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had campaigned that good days will come once they form the government at the centre. However, going by their actions, there is no indication that the good days are coming,” Gogoi told the media here.
Gogoi also took up reports on the NDA government’s recent move to give visa-free entry to Bangladeshi nationals below 18 years and above 65 years of age.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured during his Lok Sabha campaigning here that the illegal Bangladeshi nationals living in the state had to leave the state immediately. However, now they are planning to allow the Bangladeshis to enter the state without a visa,” he said.
“I do not mind giving visa on arrival as done by some countries at present. But giving entry without visa will create problems for a state like Assam where we are already facing illegal infiltration problems,” he said.
“This may be a policy of the central government to develop a better relationship with neighbouring country. But this is not the way and we are totally opposed to it,” he added.
Meanwhile, Assam’s regional political party Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Saturday sent a memorandum to the president, registering its protest over reports of the central government’s proposal to give visa free entry to Bangladeshi nationals below 18 years and above 65 years of age.
The AGP also voiced its concern over the central government’s consent for construction of a big dam for the 600 MW Kholongchu hydroelectric power project in Bhutan.
The memorandum reminded President Pranab Mukherjee that the 60 MW Kurichu hydel project in Bhutan had caused devastating floods in at least five districts of Assam in 2004 and 2007. (IANS)