Full protection for ONGC: Gogoi

The Assam government sought to downplay the case of alleged extortion notice served on the ONGC by the ULFA.

The Assam government on Thursday sought to downplay the case of alleged extortion notice served on the ONGC by the ULFA stating that full protection would be provided to its officials.

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"Full protection would be provided to the ONGC officials and there will be no move to shift its headquarters from here to outside the state," Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told reporters in Jorhat.

The chief minister stated that the government was aware of an extortion notice of Rs 500 crore allegedly served by the ULFA on the public sector company and probing its authenticity.

Gogoi said at any case the company would not be allowed to move out of the state as the state was earning a huge amount as royalty from them.

In 2004-05 alone Rs 893.09 crore as royalty was received by the government from the ONGC, he informed.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to the state on January 16 had brushed aside a query on the extortion case stating "there is no scope for extortion".