GUWAHATI: Terming the Union Budget as "pro-rich" and "pro-corporate", Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said it has got no element of getting 'acche din' as the BJP promised before coming to power.
Reacting to the Budget, Gogoi said in a statement that people of Assam expected more but did not get anything substantial.
"The people of Assam and North East found no reason to cheer as the budget remained silent on the steps for employment generation, flood, and erosion," he said.
Talking on the fund allocation for MGNREGA, Gogoi said it was done because of the pressure, criticism and demand of the majority of state governments.
Relief to the agrarian class should have been more if the Centre really wanted to bring 'acche din', especially to 75 per cent of the people of Assam associated with agriculture.
"Instead of bringing black money back, the Centre has resorted to an escape route and assured a legislation to deal with black money," the Chief Minister said.
Gogoi also said though the state government demanded steps for strengthening micro, small and medium enterprises in the state, the Budget provided no incentives to the sector.
Though the Centre gives an impression that it was for the development of North East, the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy was suspended immediately after it came to power and this year's Budget has nothing for creating industries and infrastructure in the region, he added.
"By announcing to set up an AIIMS like institution in Assam, the Centre tried to hoodwink the people as the state government had allotted a land for the same last year and the announcement was nothing new," Gogoi claimed.
He also said that the Centre talked about setting up of an IIM, but the budget remained silent on that.
Gogoi, however, thanked the 14th Finance Commission for increasing the devolution of fund to the state to 42 per cent, though most of the states demanded for 50 per cent rise.
He further said that the Budget provided nothing new for Assam and North East except carrying forward the old schemes.
"Though connectivity is a real key area for Assam and other North Eastern states, which needs major revamp, and for creation of infrastructure also connectivity was crucial, the General Budget and Railway Budget failed miserably on this front," Gogoi said.