Guwahati, Jan. 10: The ruling Congress in Assam today crossed swords with the AGP over the latter?s allegations of corruption against the state government vis-?-vis the National Games.
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi rebuffed the allegations that his government was involved in corrupt practices in engaging parties to develop infrastructure for the 33rd National Games. AGP president Brindaban Goswami yesterday alleged that the Gogoi government was using the bureaucracy to collect commissions from construction companies against awarding contracts for infrastructure development for the mega event.
Reacting to the allegations, Gogoi said, ?These are canards aimed at maligning the image of the Congress which has been giving good governance.?
The chief minister said such rumours are ?born out of frustration? and aimed at creating a sense of distrust for the Congress. ?The people of Assam are witnesses to unprecedented progress during the current Congress regime,? he added.
Taking a dig at the AGP president, Gogoi said he did nothing to develop Gauhati University during his tenure as education minister despite being ?a representative of the students?.
Goswami, in a statement, had asked the chief minister to clarify the allegations. He alleged that the Gogoi government was collecting commissions ranging between 3 per cent and 10 per cent from builders and contractors for allotment of contracts under the Nabard, Prime Minister?s Gram Sadak Yojana, North Eastern Council, National Games and National Highway Authority infrastructure development schemes. The schemes will be implemented through the public works department (PWD).
?We have been informed by state-based builders and contractors that they were deprived of work related to infrastructure development for the National Games because they could not afford the amount of commission which the L&T (Larsen and Toubro) had forked out to the Gogoi government for getting the contracts,? Goswami said.
The AGP president said the slow progress in infrastructure development had cast a shadow on timely commencement of the Games.
?The frequent reshuffles in bureaucracy is a clear indication that the Gogoi government does not want the work to progress,? Goswami said.
