HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Sept 27: Launching a scathing attack on Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge over his comments on setting up semiconductor manufacturing units in Assam, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday urged the Congress in Assam to reject such views.
Sarma’s reaction came after Priyank Kharge, who is also the son of Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, stated that Assam does not have the ecosystem for research, incubation, and innovation required for semiconductor manufacturing, and that at least 70 percent of the talent for chip design is based in Karnataka.
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He further alleged that the Central government, for political reasons, awarded one semiconductor manufacturing unit to Assam along with four in Gujarat.
“Of the five semiconductor manufacturing units, four are in Gujarat and one is in Assam. But Assam lacks an ecosystem of skills, research, and incubation for this industry. When 70% of the chip design talent is in Karnataka, I don’t understand why the government is pushing this project to another state for political gains. It is unfair,” Priyank wrote on the micro-blogging site X.
However, Sarma was quick to respond, claiming that the Congress party has always been against the development of Assam.
“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 wrote on X.
Earlier in March this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for four semiconductor projects worth about Rs 1.25 lakh crore. The projects include three semiconductor facilities in Gujarat and one in Morigaon, Assam.
The chief minister then expressed his gratitude to PM Modi for allocating a semiconductor plant to Assam.
“The development of the northeast is the Prime Minister’s top priority. Once this semiconductor facility is operational in the state, it will provide a huge boost to the growth of industries here,” he added.
The chief minister Sarma then expressed gratitude towards PM Modi for allotting one semiconductor plant in Assam.
”Development of the northeast is the top most priority of the Prime Minister. This semiconductor facility once comes up in the state, will provide a huge boost to the growth of industries here,” he added.
