Most Assam Ministers Have Rich Spouses

Guwahati, Feb 17 : Bowing to intense pressure from the opposition, Assam ministers on Wednesday made public the assets in the name of their spouses and dependents and it was found that most of their wives were far richer than they are. However, there was no mention about the source of income.

Even chief minister Tarun Gogoi is less rich than his homemaker wife Dolly Gogoi. While Gogoi has declared a net asset of Rs 35.9 lakh, his wife has net assets of Rs 36.72 lakh. Her immovable property, including a vehicle, is worth Rs 13.36 lakh.

However, the richest is Ranee Narah, a Lok Sabah MP and wife of state cultural affairs minister Bharat Chandra Narah. According to her declaration, she has assets worth Rs 3.82 crore, which includes bank deposits of Rs 28.59 lakh, fixed deposit of Rs 1.06 crore and shares worth Rs 2.5 lakh. Her immovable property is worth Rs 2.14 crore. Her husband's net assets are a mere Rs 9.05 lakh.

Food and civil supplies minister Nazrul Islam's wife Aziza Nazrul is the second richest. She has declared that her net assets are worth Rs 1.36 crore while her husband has Rs 72.88 lakh.

Forest and environment minister Rockybul Hussain's wife Nazrin Hussain is at the third spot with net assets of Rs 1.05 crore. The minister is worth Rs 81.52 lakh.

Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma is the fourth richest with assets worth Rs 66.63 lakh after deducting her liabilities of Rs 77.3 lakh. She, though, is an exception. The chairman-cum-managing director of a private satellite channel here is a shade less richer than her husband, whose declared net asset is Rs 91.02 lakh.

The couple, which takes the cake, is revenue and relief minister Bhumidhar Barman and his wife Malati Barman.

The declaration of the lady of the house shows that assets are not just counted by hand, bank deposits or investments in bonds and shares. The couple owns 33 plots of land with Malati having 19 alone spread across Guwahati and Nalbari district. Her total assets, including bank deposits and NSCs, comes to Rs 20.13 lakh. Her husband has six houses.

Water resource minister Prihivi Majhi's wife Tarulata's net assets are worth Rs 15.67 lakh while Manirani Goala, wife of urban development minister Dinesh Goala, has assets of Rs 40.24 lakh.

While education minister Gautam Bora's wife Anna Hazariak Bora has assets of Rs 24.03 lakh, border development minister Gautam Roy's wife Mondira Roy has property worth Rs 39.47 lakh.