Raj Bhawan-Govt tension mounts in Assam

Guwahati, Feb 28 (UNI) The Raj Bhawan and Assam government are on a collision course as the cabinet took a decision that the former cannot call any officer directly, without routing the request through the Chief Minister or Chief Secretary's office.

The Raj Bhawan, angry at the development, called for the official decision of the cabinet. Both sides, through their official spokesmen, informed about the development.

''It is true. The cabinet took a decision on Tuesday evening. The cabinet is of the opinion that Raj Bhawan has been interfering into the state administration and hence it has been decided to route all such future requests through the Chief Minister's office,'' said a government spokesperson.

Governor Lt Gen Ajay Singh had been calling up heads of various departments to his office and taking stock of the progress of various works, specially in the matter of the autonomous councils of Karbi Anglong and the NC Hills.

This has not gone down well with the Assam cabinet. There had been simmering tension between the government and the Raj Bhawan for long. Sources close to the Chief Minister's office informed that Mr Tarun Gogoi had already written to the Prime Minister's Office seeking appointment of political persons as Governor.

General Singh's term of office is ending next month. He is peeved at the development and asked his office to seek the original decision of the cabinet 'in black and white'.

General Singh is now in Hyderabad and his office had confirmed receipt of the same.

UNI MT PL SP KN1415