Assam Government shows soft corner for Meghalaya in Budget 2019-20

Guwahati, February 6, 2019:

The Assam budget 2019 was announced today by Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Eighteen flagship schemes were announced by the Senior Minister at the budget that is mainly aimed at providing benefits to the weaker sections of society.

Meanwhile, rising tensions in the Northeast (due to the proposed implementation of the Citizenship Act, 1955) have led to increasing tension among the Northeastern leaders. While Biswa Sarma and Assam’s CM Sarbananda Sonowal have been firm in their support of the’s Bill’s implementation, Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma has been running helter skelter in order to garner support to oppose it. It is perhaps due to this very reason that Biswa Sarma has promised a sum of Rs. 10 crores as ‘solidarity fund’ to the state of Meghalaya.

Biswa Sarma has announced that the sum will be allotted as a “goodwill gesture” as the state of Meghalaya prepares to host the 39^th edition of the National Games. Is this move of the Assam administration the extending of a hand of friendship to Conrad Sangma, who has been threatening to part ways with the BJP if the Citizenship Act is amended?