Gaurav Gogoi demands Piyush Goyal's clarification on allocation of Rs 10 crore funds to Assam CM's wife

Digital Desk: Assam Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Monday questioned Union Minister Piyush Goyal and demanded answers regarding the distribution of funding from the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) to a company associated with the family of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. 

Gogoi highlighted the issue and called for transparency in a letter to Union Minister of Commerce, Piyush Goyal.

The MP raised the fact that M/S Pride East Entertainment had received Rs 10 crore from the Ministry of Food Processing as part of the PMKSY and Scheme for Creation of Infrastructure for Agro Clusters. Smt. Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, the chief minister of Assam's wife, promotes this company.

Gogoi highlighted the Office of the Minister of Commerce and Industry's response to questions in the Lok Sabha on March 22, 2023, outlining government programs to boost Assam's industrial development. A list of the North Eastern States' food processing projects supported by the PMKSY as of January 31, 2022, was included in the response. Notably, the M/S Pride East Entertainment Private Limited was listed at Serial No. 7, with a Grant-in-Aid amount of Rs. 10,00,00,000.

The MP emphasized that the Ministry of Food Processing Industries' website includes information regarding this allocation. Himanta Biswa Sarma has refuted claims that he received money from the Indian government despite this evidence.

To guarantee public openness and to explain the issue, Gaurav Gogoi has asked the Union Minister of Commerce to step in. He underlined the need to give grants from the government to legitimate recipients who have shown they are capable of properly using taxpayer funds. Gogoi recommended turning to the banking sector for credit if established media channels wanted to start new businesses.