Congress neglected Assam since 1950s: Former CM Prafulla Kumar Mahanta

Guwahati, Oct 14: Former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today alleged that the Congress had neglected Assam since the 1950s and was responsible for the current problems faced by the state.

"The injustice of the Centre towards Assam had existed since the early 1950s and continues even today. Both Congress and BJP are insensitive to the problem of the state and lack will to resolve it," Mahanta told the opening session of the Asom Gana Parishad's (AGP) two-day state convention to mark its 30th anniversary here.

The former AGP president alleged that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi "now claims that the Centre did not give importance to Assam during the floods, but all these years it was he who said that the Centre gives the state whatever they asked for."

He further alleged that both the Congress and BJP were not interested in ensuring peace and development in Assam as evident from the land transfer deal signed with Bangladesh.

"The Congress-led UPA government signed the deal by which Assam's land will be handed over to Bangladesh while the BJP led NDA government will ratify it in the next session of Parliament," Mahanta said.

He said AGP while in power "may have made a few mistakes but it should also be given credit for the good work in the interest of the indigenous people of the state."

Mahanta further said that people, particularly the new generation, wanted change and "we are committed to bring about the change. During the next two days we'll discuss and chalk out plans to revamp the party keeping the interest of the indigenous population at the forefront."

Mahanta had stepped down as party president owning moral responsibility after the last Lok Sabha elections in which the party failed to win a single seat of the 12 constituencies it had contested.

PTI