Assam Commerce and Industries Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary’s statement during the Zero Hour of the State Assembly session on Thursday over the revival package for the Nagaon Paper Mill and Cachar Paper Mill irked the paper mill workers in the State.
In reply to a question raised by Congress’ Karimganj North MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha during the Zero Hour in the State Legislative Assembly session on Thursday, Patowary had stated that a pending litigation in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) put the process of disbursement of the revival package of Rs 1900 crore for both the mills in the State on hold.
During a press conference here on Friday, Cachar Paper Mill Workers’ Union president Manabendra Chakraborty questioned Minister Patowary whether he was in deep slumber before filing of the case with NCLT by an Assam based contractor.
Chakraborty alleged the saffron party-ruled Central Government has been “exploiting the State with a colonial attitude”.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monopoly would not work here in Assam. The incumbent BJP-led Government has been doing conspiracy to curb the fundamental rights of the paper mill workers in Assam. We won’t tolerate the capitalist government’s conspiracy anymore,” Chakraborty said.
Chakraborty also questioned the State Government why didn’t it take any action if there were anomalies.
Talking about alleged ‘corruption’ in the Nagaon and Cachar paper mills, Chakraborty questioned, “Why was the Government maintained silence in the matter? Why wasn’t there any inquiry?”
Lashing out at the BJP-led State Government over its ‘false promises’ made before 2014 Lok Sabha and 2016 Assembly polls, Chakraborty further said, “Not a single industry has been installed in Assam till date in the four years of BJP rule at the Centre and more than two years’ rule in the State.”
“Advantage Assam and Act East Policy all were just a gimmick. The paper mill workers have been betrayed by the Government,” Chakraborty said.