Guwahati, July 10: BJP parliamentarian Ramen Deka has urged Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal to constitute an inquiry commission to probe the allegations of corruption during the 15 years of Congress rule.

Deka, who represents Mangaldoi Lok Sabha constituency, made the request during his meeting with Sonowal here yesterday.

He opined that the BJP-led state government should constitute an inquiry commission to conduct an all-encompassing probe into every allegation of corruption and other misdeeds of the previous Congress governments.

Deka said he had raised the demand because he believes that conducting separate inquiries into multiple charges of corruption may not be feasible and will not serve the desired purpose. On the state government's decision to hike VAT on 131 commodities from 5 to 6 per cent, Deka said instead of increasing the VAT just a few days ahead of the budget session, the government should have included it in the budget, which will be passed later this month, in order to avoid unnecessary controversy.

AGP legislator Prafulla Kumar Mahanta had also criticised the state government for increasing the VAT by allegedly keeping the coalition partners in the dark. The state government is facing flak from various organisations for increasing VAT as it could lead to price rise.

During the meeting, Deka raised the demand for granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Kalita community.

He also urged Sonowal to set up a kalakshetra (cultural arena) named after 6th century king Kumar Bhaskar Varma on the northern bank.

Deka said he discussed the issue of the government not being able to enforce its ban on smokeless tobacco owing to an alleged nexus between a section of politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen. "The government should either totally enforce the ban or withdraw it as its ineffective enforcement has become a source of illegal income for a section of politicians, bureaucrats and traders," he said.