Triggering a massive hue and cry over the Lower Subansiri Hydro Power Project in Assam, the Centre on Thursday hinted that it would go ahead the 2000 MW national hydro power project. Union Power Minister Piyush Goel said that the project, if completed, would end the power crisis in Assam in particular and the northeast in general. “The Lower Subansiri Project will end the power crisis in Assam. People in the State should support the project,” said Goel when an 18–member BJP delegation from Assam met him in Delhi. He reportedly told the delegation that the expert committee reports on the Subansiri Project stated that the project would not harm the people of Assam and if necessary all the stakeholders connected to the project would again sit together. Goel said if necessary his Ministry is ready to organise video conferencing to take the views of all stakeholders including that of the protesters. Goel’s statement has immediately backfired in Assam with the anti–dam agitators hitting the streets shouting anti–government slogans. The BJP delegation led by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and raised several other issues. Singh has reportedly told the BJP delegation that Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju would visit the India–Bangladesh border areas very shortly