GUWAHATI, SEPT 25: For soft-spoken Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, uttering a harsh or critical word is a difficult task. The task has become more difficult in view of the fact that the BJP-led government at the centre too has adopted a soft stance towards his government in Assam.So when it comes to matters like depriving his state on issues like releasing funds for flood relief and reconstruction, the Assam Chief Minister is left with no choice but to engage his colleagues to fire the Centre.The task has become easier especially when he has two Left parties as allies in the state, and senior CPI leader Pramod Gogoi as his Minister for flood control. While Mahanta is still officially looking forward to generous financial aid from the Centre, Gogoi has begun a tirade against New Delhi by saying that the Centre had adopted a dual policy for measuring the sufferings of the flood-affected people in different states of the country.Like Gogoi's statement today: ``The Centre has already released substantial fundsto some states like Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, but when it comes to Assam only the mandatory funds under natural calamity relief fund (NCRF) are being sanctioned.''Though, Gogoi's complaint is not unfounded. The centre has released Rs 550 crore for flood relief and reconstruction in Uttar Pradesh, while Assam has not even go Rs 50 crore.All but two of Assam's 23 districts were severely affected by floods this year, which began in June and receded only last week, while three districts, - Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Nalbari - have been almost totally devastated. More than 150 persons have lost their lives while surface communication has been thrown to the winds.The Centre has been indulging only in issuing assurances that all help would be extended to Assam to tide over the flood situation, but not a single paisa has actually trickled down, Gogoi complains.The CPM, another ally of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) too matched Gogoi in its tirade against the Central bias. ``Prime Minister Vajpayeehimself came to observe the flood situation. The Union minister for agriculture too had come. But not a single rupee has been sanctioned for the state,'' said Hemen Das, MLA, and senior CPM Leader.Assam's minister for Revenue Zoiinath Sharma states the logistics: The total damage is put at Rs 1000 crore. But we have got nothing more than Rs 41.60 crore as calamity relief and Rs 29 crore as flood relief.The AGP is increasingly realising that it has to fend on its won. General secretary Nagen Sharma has gone on record saying it is of no use depending on or waiting for the Centre's help.But Mahanta continues to play it cool, ``We are fondly expecting that considerable fund from the natural calamity relief fund will be available from the government of India so that the repair and recoupment works of the damaged structures can be taken up on war-footing,'' a soft-spoken Mahanta said at a seminar.When pointed out, a senior Congress leader of the state said ``Mahanta cannot afford to antagonise theCentre. After all he has got a clean chit on the law & order situation from both Vajpayee and Advani.''
