NEW DELHI, Aug 25 ? An all-party delegation of the Assam Assembly today urged the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to recognise the floods of Assam as a national problem besides seeking Rs 6,500 crore for rehabilitation of flood victims and repair of the damaged infrastructure. The delegation led by Speaker of Assam Assembly, Prithibi Majhi met the Prime Minister at his Parliament House office this afternoon and presented him a memorandum signed by all the political parties.
Later emerging out of the meeting, he told this newspaper that the Prime Minister?s attention was drawn to the rules of governing NCCF that if Government of India desired then the problem could be declared as a national problem. He argued that it was not possible for the State Government to meet all the expenditures and hence Rs 6,500 crore should be released to Assam for rehabilitation, repair the damaged dykes and embankments.
Sri Majhi said that the Prime Minister gave them a patient hearing and assured all help. He said that he would consult the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR). Those who accompanied the delegation included State Ministers, Ripun Bora, Bharat Narah, Dr Hemo Prova Saikia, besides Ajit Singh, Zoiinath Sarma, Dilip Saikia Sonowal, Promilla Rani Brahma, Hemendra Brahma, Probindra Deka, Mission Ranjan Dey, Dinesh Sarkar and Pranab Kalita among others.
The delegation was also accompanied by representatives of various Other Backward Class (OBC) groups demanding Schedule Tribe status for Koch Rajbongshi, Tea and ex-Tea tribe, Moran, Matok, Tai-Ahom and Chutia among others. The Speaker pleaded that the centre according ST status to these groups should bring a comprehensive bill. The Prime Minister said he would consult the matter with the Tribal Affairs Ministry, the Speaker said.