Guwahati, Feb 6: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s frequent use of chartered flights and helicopters for travel has come under scrutiny, with reports revealing a total expenditure of over Rs 58 crore on such services in the last two and a half years. This information was disclosed by Minister Ranjit Das in response to a query raised by Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi during the Assam Legislative Assembly’s Budget session.
The figures provided by Das break down the spending as follows:
- 2021-22:Â Rs 10,19,81,946
- 2022-23:Â Rs 34,01,05,845
- 2023-24 (till date):Â Rs 14,02,19,313
Gogoi further pressed for details regarding the Chief Minister’s specific travel expenses, including dates, destinations, type of aircraft used, and cost per flight. He also questioned whether the Chief Minister personally bore any of the costs and raised concerns about the potential misuse of government funds for personal or political activities.
Gogoi’s accusations center around the perception that the Chief Minister is indulging in excessive luxury travel at the expense of taxpayers. He highlighted instances where chartered aircraft were allegedly used for personal visits, campaign activities, and even transporting the Chief Minister’s relatives.
These allegations have sparked public debate and calls for greater transparency in government spending, particularly when it comes to high-cost expenditures like chartered flights. The Chief Minister’s office is yet to respond to the specific accusations raised by Gogoi.
It remains to be seen whether further details regarding the travel expenses will be made available and how the Chief Minister will address the concerns raised by the MLA.
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