Guwahati, 1st October: In a bold move, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) Chief Bhupen Borah has challenged Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court regarding the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam. Borah’s challenge comes in response to remarks made by Sarma during a visit to Jharkhand, where the CM vowed to expel all illegal immigrants from Assam once the NRC is fully implemented.
Borah criticized Sarma for making such declarations outside Assam, questioning why the CM hasn’t filed a Supreme Court affidavit to clarify his position on the NRC. “If Sarma is confident in his stance, why is he reluctant to submit an affidavit?” Borah asked. He further claimed that Sarma’s statements outside Assam were not matched by concrete actions within the state, citing over 32 lakh applications for just 12,600 job posts as a sign of deeper governance issues.
“The people of Assam are focused on eliminating corruption and seeking real development,” Borah said, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using the NRC issue to mislead the public about its true intentions.
Borah also addressed the controversy surrounding the proposed establishment of a semiconductor industry in Assam. He clarified that while the Congress is not opposed to setting up the industry, it objects to the chosen location. “We are simply pointing out that this is where paper mills once provided livelihoods to thousands,” Borah said, criticizing the BJP for failing to revive the Jagiroad and Cachar paper mills, which were critical sources of employment in Assam.
The controversy intensified after Sarma responded to criticism from Congress leader and Karnataka Minister *Priyank Kharge, who questioned the viability of establishing semiconductor units in Assam. Sarma accused the Congress of opposing the state’s development, writing on *X (formerly Twitter): “Once again, Congress shows its true colours by opposing Assam’s development. A Karnataka minister claims 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.”
Kharge defended his position, highlighting the lack of necessary infrastructure in Assam. He pointed out that 70% of India’s chip designing talent is concentrated in Karnataka, making it a more logical location for such industries. He criticized the government for allegedly pushing semiconductor projects to Assam for political reasons, calling the move “unfair.”
As the debate continues, the clash over the NRC and the semiconductor industry underscores the growing political tension between the BJP and Congress in Assam, with both parties vying for public support ahead of future elections.
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