If assets and liabilities of Assam ministers declared on Saturday are any indicator, they are not only poor, but also reeling under massive liabilities of loans from financial institutions and family members.
Following the pressure of AICC in-charge of Assam affairs Digvijay Singh, Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi and his ministers were compelled to declare their assets.
Among ministers who posted their assets on website of the Assam government, the richest minister is Himanata Biswa Sarma with assets of `91 lakhs. Though, he is known for travelling in fleet of cars but owns an old Maruti Zen of present market value worth `1.14 lakhs besides `3.25 lakhs, cash in hand.
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi who owns a Honda City car have the asset of merely `54 lakhs.
The ministers have not declared the assets of their wives and dependents who are obviously richer than the ministers as most of them are at the receiving end for owning lucrative businesses like satellite channels, newspapers, hotels, FM radio, malls and lands.
The state excise minister Gautam Roy known for his magnanimity for giving charity to his constituency people has deposited the papers of his annual return being submitted to the income-tax department.
Ministers Ajanta Neog, DP Goala, Dr Bhumidhar Barman, Gautom Roy, Nurjamal Sarkar, Pramila Rani Brahma, Rockybul Hussain, Akon Bora, Dr Nazrul Islam, Khorsing Engti, Pradyut Bordoloi and Rihon Daimari also declared their assets but most, of them have disappointed their critics who have been accusing them of amassing huge property by looting the state’s exchequer.
Assam PWD minister Ajanta Neog owns property worth `48 lakhs while state forest minister Rockybul Hussain have an asset of about `90 lakhs.
The industry minister Pradyut Borodloi whose close relatives owns a FM radio station have movable and immovable assets of few lakhs but does not have any car.