PM's heart on RS seat, not Asom's issues: AASU

Guwahati, Aug 2 (UNI) The All Assam Students Union today alleged that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh' was interested only in the Rajya Sabha seat and failed to take note of the perennial flood problem in Asom.

Demanding a special package from the Centre for relief and rehabilitation for the flood-hit areas, AASU advisor Sammujal Bhattacharyya came down heavily upon the Centre for failing to execute its assurances of revamping the Brahmaputra Board and implement the recommendations of the task force on floods.

'' The Centre had also assured to set up an independent authority for tackling the floods, but it had also failed to implement it,'' AASU rued.

''There has been allegations that the government agencies have not maintained and revamped the embankments despite knowing that floods wreck havoc in the vulnerable areas. The state government and the Centre are not at all sincere towards the perennial problems,'' he stated.

A day after a minor was injured when police fired in the air to control irate inmates of relief camp in Lower Asom who were protesting against the inadequate relief and aid provided by the government, the ASSU advisor told reporters here, that ''inputs pouring in from various corners of the state indicates that the state and Central government has utterly failed to provide adequate relief to the flood-affected people.'' Questioning the execution of the Central funds meant for maintaining and revamping the embankments, Mr Bhattacharyya said '' the Prime Minister's interest is just in the Rajya Sabha seat, and was not concerned about the problems of the people of Asom.'' AASU also demanded a white paper on the pre-monsoon funds released by the Centre for taking measures to minimise eventualities that may be caused by floods.

UNI