BJP betrayed Paper Mill Employees, it will pay heavy price in Lok Sabha polls: Action Committee

March 30: HPC Paper Mill Revival Action Committee organised a protest demonstration in front of the Pachgram paper mill gate as against the apathy of both the central and state government towards the employees. On Saturday, the Action committee staged a dharna as against the death of 51 of its employees since the mill was closed more than two years ago. They lamented that the death of the employees of the mill is only due to the indifference of the government.

While production at Cachar Paper Mill, Panchgram stopped on 20 October, 2015, the Nagaon Paper Mill at Jagiroad was closed on 13 March, 2017. Slogans were raised against the BJP government, especially against the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Assam during the protest demonstration.

Manoabendra Chakraborty, Chief Convenor of the Action Committee said that Sarbananda Sonowal has given many assurances but till now the truth of any such assurances has not been ascertained. Now, the Action Committee has made a fervent appeal to all the Citizens of Barak Valley, includes intellectuals, NGO’s, Students Organizations, Clubs, Political parties irrespective of differences to come forward & actively participate in its agitation. The Action Committee has now taken in hand a detailed programme to be followed during the poll campaign by the BJP.

In a memorandum addressed to the Deputy Commissioners of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi, the HPC Paper Mill Revival Action Committee has categorically mentioned that “We vehemently condemn the hostile and colonial attitude of the centre towards Assam.” They have taken in hand a twin objective, based on which they declared:

1. Protest rally during ensuing Parliament Election campaign by ruling party
2. Awareness campaign to organise the people of Barak Valley through Gram Sabha, Street corner meeting, social media and leaflet.

In the said memorandum, of the Action Committee, it was stated that “the agitation has been called to register protest against neglecting attitude of State & Central government towards the people of Assam by deliberately delaying to restart & revive HPC Paper Mills of Assam. The destruction of Industries caused unemployment of two lac people directly or indirectly & severely damaged the rural economy of Barak & Brahmaputra Valley. The lone heavy industrial asset of Barak Valley may be saved if the Revival plan approved by Cabinet of GOI is implemented. But intentional delay owing to serious conspiracy to extend unethical benefits to Private corporate Houses is an unfortunate event.”

Manabendra Chakraborty also mentioned that they have received repeated assurances from both the central and the state government regarding reviving the two paper mills, but nothing as materialized as yet.  Over and above, instead of keeping their words, the government is making clandestine arrangements to sell the mills to private players. He also appealed to the people at large of the state to come forward and defeat the nefarious design of the present political dispensation.