Majuli Should be Given 'Iconic' Status by Government, Says Assam Congress

Guwahati, February 3, 2020:

The Assam state Congress unit has demanded the Narendra Modi-led Government to preserve Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal's home constituency of Majuli, after the Government's announcement of granting "iconic" status to history-town Sivasagar under the new budget.

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Talking to mediapersons, Assam Congress President Ripun Bora on Sunday, slamming the Government's Budget, queried why Majuli has not been chosen to be upgraded. Welcoming the inclusion of Sivasagar, which was among 5 sites chosen, Bora asked why Majuli, the cultural nerve-centre of the State, has not been chosen. "Why was he (Chief Minister Sonowal) not able to convince the Centre and the Union to include Majuli in the list?"

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Bora, criticizing the Union Budget presented on Friday by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also cast doubts over the BJP Government's proposed modernization of the waterway from Dhubri to Sadiya. Bora said that earlier too, the BJP-led Government had promised to construct expressways, which has as of yet not been undertaken.

It may be mentioned here that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday announced the Government’s intention to develop five archaeological sites, including Assam’s very own Sivasagar, as “iconic sites”, along with the construction of onsite museums.

Rakhigarhi in Haryana, Hastinapur in UP, Dholavira in Gujarat, and Adichanallur in Tamil Nadu are the other sites that have been chosen to be given “iconic” status.

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