Guwahati, June 27: Assam Cabinet Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah has categorically refuted allegations regarding a government subsidy availed by his wife’s dairy enterprise, clarifying that the assistance came through a transparent, government notified scheme aimed at promoting dairy entrepreneurship.

Addressing the media, the Minister presented documentation to counter claims of misuse and the alleged disappearance of cows under the Garukhuti Project.

“The scheme involved a 40% bank loan, 30% beneficiary contribution, and 30% government subsidy. It’s not a political favour, but a legitimate initiative open to all eligible applicants,” he said.

He stated that out of 20 available slots, only 16 applications were received. One was rejected due to documentation issues, and the remaining 15 including his wife’s, were sanctioned purely on eligibility. “No deserving applicant was denied and the subsidy was routed through banks, not given as direct handouts,” he added.

Responding to claims by Pratidin Time regarding missing cows, Baruah explained that 300 Gir cows were procured under the Garukhuti Project. Due to inadequate cowshed space, 90 were sold through legal channels. “Twenty of those cows were purchased by my wife’s enterprise for ₹13.2 lakh through proper banking channels. I’m submitting the bank statement for full transparency,” he asserted.

The Minister condemned the spread of misinformation and urged the media to verify facts before publishing. “The process was lawful and transparent. I will continue serving with integrity despite politically motivated attempts to malign my image,” he concluded.