GUWAHATI: The Congress has called for the Centre’s investigation into the allegations surrounding Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife allegedly receiving government subsidies for a project.
In a letter to Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday, Congress MP and deputy leader of the Opposition, Gaurav Gogoi raised concerns about government funds being allocated to M/S Pride East Entertainment, the company where Riniki Bhuyan Sarma serves as the chairman and managing director.
Gogoi pointed out that the Ministry of Food Processing, under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) and Scheme for Creation of Infrastructure for Agro Clusters, allocated Rs 10 crore to the company. This allocation has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and misuse of government resources.
The issue came to light when a Guwahati-based digital media outlet published a report claiming that over 50 bigha (approximately 17 acres) of agricultural land in Darigaji village, Koliabor in Nagaon district, was reclassified as industrial land just a month after being purchased by the said company.
In the letter, Gogoi referred to a parliamentary reply from March 22, 2023, in which Minister Goyal provided a list of food processing projects supported under the PMKSY as of January 31, 2022. In this list, M/S Pride East Entertainment Pvt Ltd was mentioned as a beneficiary with an approved grant-in-aid of Rs 10 crore.
Gogoi also expressed the opinion that established media channels venturing into new businesses should seek financing from the private sector rather than relying on government grants. He highlighted the importance of directing government subsidies to genuine and deserving beneficiaries who can effectively utilize taxpayer funds.
On September 14, Chief Minister Sarma vehemently refuted the claims stating that he would willingly step away from public service, if evidence emerges proving his wife’s receipt or claim of funds from the Indian government.
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana is a comprehensive initiative designed to develop modern infrastructure and efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlets, with the aim of bolstering the food processing sector in India.
