Guwahati: The Assamese population lacks the expertise to support a large enterprise such as the semiconductor facility setup by Tata. Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge, the son of Congress national president Mallikajun Kharge, claims that the government is only forcing such a high technology industry like the semiconductor sector to Assam by utilising its political might. In Assam, people are reacting sharply to the controversial and derogatory remarks made by the Congress president’s son.
The Congress leader in an X post wrote, “Five semicon manufacturing units, four are in Gujarat, and one is in Assam, but they don’t have an ecosystem of skills there. They don’t have an ecosystem of research there. They don’t have an ecosystem of incubation. They don’t have a system of ecosystem of innovations…when 70% of the chip designing talent lies in Karnataka, I don’t understand why the government wants to push to another state by using political clout. That is unfair.” The Karnataka minister says it is unjust to establish a semiconductor facility and promote industrial development in Assam.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma responded to the unethical remark made by the son of the Congress president by saying, “Once again, Congress shows its true colours by opposing Assam’s development.” According to a minister from Karnataka who also happens to be the national president’s son in the Congress, Assam has no business hosting a semiconductor sector! I implore Assam Congress leaders to reject this polarising ideology and defend the state’s legitimate development and advancement, CM Sarma added.
Pijush Hazarika, a senior minister of Assam, also responded to Kharge’s contentious remark. “Another example of Cong’s anti-Assam attitude,” he posted on his X account. First Karti Cidambaram and now Priyank Kharge insulted the ability of people of Assam after Assam won the historic semiconductor facility, He said, “Remember that Assam is an integral part of India. In addition, he requested a response from Assam Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi, Rakibul Hussain, and Pradyut Bordoloi regarding this nonsensical assertion. He questioned if they agreed with Kharge’s assertion or if they were just resentful that the one investment exceeded the whole amount they were able to bring in over their 60 years in office.”
