Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika, along with BJP workers, held a large protest rally in Jagiroad on Tuesday, demanding an apology from Congress leader and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge for his comments regarding Assam's semiconductor project.
Hazarika condemned Kharge's recent tweets, questioning why Assam had secured the semiconductor project while Karnataka had not. He stated, "This is a sad statement for Assam. I am a nationalist and believe that while Karnataka should benefit, Assam should not be denied its due." He called for an apology from Kharge and the Congress party, asserting that Congress opposes the development of various states.
In a post on X, Hazarika expressed, "Today I joined the people of Jagiroad and my fellow @BJP4Assam colleagues & karyakartas to protest against @INCAssam and the family of their “President” Mr @kharge for their vehement opposition to Assam’s biggest ever private investment. Cong is Anti Assam thus cannot digest state's development."
The protest comes on the heels of the Assam government’s recent decision to lease a state-owned land site in Morigaon to the Tata Group for a major semiconductor manufacturing plant. The agreement was formalised on July 16, allowing construction to begin soon. This significant milestone involves leasing 517.27 hectares of land for 60 years.
Kharge's remarks, suggesting Assam and Gujarat lack the infrastructure and ecosystem for such projects, have sparked strong reactions. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other leaders have condemned Kharge’s comments as anti-Assam, fueling demonstrations across the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Tata Group's semiconductor and testing centre in Jagiroad on March 13, marking a technological advancement for Assam. The Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt Ltd (TSAT) plans to establish a facility with a production capacity of 48 million chips per day, with an investment of Rs 27,000 crore. The facility will cater to various sectors, including automotive, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, telecom, and mobile phones.
