Manmohan Singh colluded and conspired against Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma

 Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday alleged that former prime minister Manmohan Singh had "colluded and conspired" against the state by not giving it oil royalty on pre-discounted price.

"Manmohan Singh is the man who colluded and conspired against Assam -- his own state from where he was elected to Rajya Sabha -- by not giving oil royalty at pre-discounted rate. "With him, Tarun Gogoi (former chief minister) had also colluded and conspired," Sarma said at a press conference in the Assembly complex.

Stating that Gujarat High Court had awarded oil royalty at pre-discounted rate to Gujarat, Sharma noted the Singh government had moved the apex court against the decision, a step which had a direct bearing on Assam."I would have brought a censure motion against the former prime minister if I did not have extreme personal regard for him," he said.

Sarma said the current government at the centre has asked the PSU oil companies to pay the royalty on pre-discounted price with effect from January 1, 2014 and Rs 1,480 crore for the same was released two days ago for Assam. The Finance minister also made a statement inside the House on the same issue when it was raised by AGP MLA Pabindra Deka.