Young activists of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) protested on September 28 outside the Assam Congress headquarters in response to Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge’s alleged objections to establishing a semiconductor plant in Assam.
Members of the Guwahati unit of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) marched toward the Rajiv Bhawan, the headquarters of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), attempting to gherao the building. However, security personnel prevented them from entering the premises. During the demonstration, the activists raised slogans against the Congress and Kharge, holding placards to express their dissent.
In a recent interview, Kharge claimed that semiconductor units being established in Gujarat and Assam were influenced by political favoritism.
Taking to his X handle, he had shared an extract from the interview, “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 per cent 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.”
In response to Kharge’s comments, a BJYM leader criticized the Congress party for allegedly working against the interests of Assam. He urged the Assam Congress to clarify its position on Kharge’s remarks, questioning Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi’s stance.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also condemned Kharge’s statements, asserting on X (formerly Twitter) that the Congress party is opposing Assam’s development. He stated,”Once again, Congress shows its true colours by opposing Assam’s development. A Karnataka minister, who is also the son of the Congress national president, claims that Assam has no right to host a semiconductor industry!” “I urge Assam Congress leaders to reject this divisive thinking and stand up for Assam’s rightful growth and progress,” Sarma added.
The Tata Group is set to establish a ¹ 26,000-crore semiconductor plant in Jagiroad, located in Assam’s Morigaon district, underscoring the state’s potential for industrial growth.