Gogoi accuses Centre of discrimination in flood help

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today accused the Central government of failing to take the floods in his state as seriously as the Jammu and Kashmir deluge, though Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju denied any discrimination.

“The Centre is not taking the Assam floods as seriously as the J&K floods. We should also receive also the same treatment. Their’s (J&K) is a one-year affair. Ours is an every year affair,” asserted Gogoi while talking to reporters on the sidelines of a meeting in Guwahati.

Assam Power Minister Pradyut Bordoloi also said, “We had hoped to get the same help from the Centre. Assam’s floods was unprecedented. All efforts from our side, however, are on for rescue and relief of the flood-hit people.”

Responding to Gogoi and Bordoloi’s accusations, Rijiju said, “Jammu and Kashmir government does not know how to handle floods as it does not occur there regularly. The Centre had to help as the government there failed to tackle the situation and had no idea what to do.”

“Floods in Assam is a recurring problem, so the government knows how to handle it. We have responded to the floods in Assam. We will not allow any discrimination. We will never allow that. Money has already been given for the State Disaster Relief Fund. Extra NDRF force will also be given,” Rijiju, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, told reporters at Lakhimpur airport. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday called up Gogoi to take stock of the flood situation in the state and assured him of all help from the Centre.

PTI