Assam Congress Legislature Party leader Debabrata Saxena on Friday expressed concern over the state government’s increasing debt policy. He said that the government’s reliance on loans for various schemes, especially in the name of “freebies,” could have a long-term negative impact on the state’s economy and the burden would fall on the general public.
Sharp Criticism of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s Debt Policy
Speaking to the media at Rajiv Bhavan, Debabrata Saxena targeted Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He said that the Sarma government’s debt-ridden habit has increased significantly, and it is taking on huge amounts of debt to implement new schemes. He recalled that even when Assam’s debt reached ₹10,000 crore during the tenure of former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, ministers were concerned about the issue. Today, this debt has increased almost tenfold.
Comparisons with Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra Rejected
Debabrata said that when the Chief Minister answers questions about Assam’s rising debt, he cites the examples of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. However, he dismissed this comparison as inaccurate. He said that these states have strong agricultural and industrial systems, allowing them to repay their debts. However, despite Assam’s heavy debt, farmers have limited irrigation facilities and industrialization is negligible.
Assam’s Lagging Status in Development and Failure to Control Floods
Saixna cited Assam’s poor Human Development Index (HDI) ranking as a challenge to the Chief Minister’s dream of making the state one of the top five states. He also criticized the government’s efforts to combat floods and erosion. He expressed displeasure over the lack of concrete steps to improve the drainage system in Dibrugarh, particularly in Dibrugarh. He said that the Chief Minister’s talk of making Dibrugarh the second capital appears to be purely for political reasons.
Farmers’ distress over African swine fever and demand for compensation
Debabrata also expressed concern over the large number of pigs being slaughtered in the state due to African swine fever. He said the compensation provided by the government is “inadequate.” Many pig farmers run this business with loans and their livelihoods depend on it. Therefore, he demanded adequate compensation from the Chief Minister to help the affected farmers.
