CAA Andolan has Stalled Development in Assam Says BJP Minister, Draws Rebuke from Opposition

Guwahati, March 5, 2020:

Assam Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Chandramohan Patowary has come under the gun for claiming in the Assembly that industrialists have deserted Assam in the aftermath of the Citizenship Amendment Act (or CAA). This, he said, has stalled "development" in the State, as industrialists have become hesitant to venture forth to Assam.

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During a discussion on the floor, the Minister said, "when the CAA andolan was there, they (industrialists) said they will not come here". The Minister, rebuking protesters of the Act, said that two companies had agreed to set up a hundred metric ton paper mill in the state, but they are now withdrawing because of the rampant protests.

"Not only CAA...there have been many andolans...there have been many andolans in Assam", AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam said. "CAA andolan has been going on for 2-3 months...for so many years why have they not been able to develop?", he later questioned the Government addressing mediapersons.

Patowary also said that due to the various schemes of the Assam Government, as many as 3,61,142 people have been appointed during this Government's tenure.

Meanwhile, the opposition leaders have also questioned why both paper mills in Assam have been shut down, and asked if the Kerala Government can revive its paper mills, why cannot the Assam Government do the same?

Mariani MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi said that tea gardens are closed down due to non payment of wages and ration, and said that despite all these people suffering due to the current state-of-affairs, 'Advantage Assam' is being held.

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