[Assam] Northeast politicians embezzling funds: Jairam Ramesh

[Pradip Kumar Datta]

Northeast politicians embezzling funds: Jairam Ramesh
     Shillong, Oct 20: Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh has accused politicians in the northeast of misusing central funds pumped to the region for development work.

"The central government spends Rs.150 billion each year for the northeast. Had the money been given directly to the people, poverty would have been alleviated by now," the minister told a seminar Thursday on 'Look East Policy' organised by the Synod College in the Meghalaya state capital. 

Ramesh urged the people in the northeast to seek documents and accounts, taking advantage of the Right to Information Act.

"The people were deprived of their dues because a large chunk of the funds goes to politicians, their patrons, contractors, builders, and the rich influential class," the minister said here. 

He said infrastructural growth in the northeast was far from satisfactory and accused the regional governments of incompetence and failure to plug the leakage of central funds.

The minister's scathing attack embarrassed Meghalaya Chief Minister J.D. Rymbai and other top politicians present at the meeting.

"Where has the money gone? The people have every right to ask these questions to those who are in the seat of power," Ramesh said. 
  
  --- IANS

 				
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