Assam Pradesh Congress Committee demands status report of Global Investors Summit

‘Global Investors Summit a gimmick’

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

GUWAHATI, July 12: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has demanded a status paper from the Sonowal government on the Global Investors Summit held in the State in February. It further sought a detailed account of the investment made by the organizers, the response of investors as well as the employment the summit has reportedly generated. “The summit par se failed on all counts. We had welcomed the move when it was announced that investors from across the globe would invest close to Rs 1 lakh crore in various sectors of the State. However, though several crores of rupees were spent during the summit days, the result was zero. It was just a gimmick!” stated Ripun Bora APCC president and Rajya Sabha MP while addressing media persons at Rajib Bhawan here today.

Adding that “some industries have, in fact, cut down their production in Assam”, Bora pointed out: “Even the survey on ‘Ease of Doing Business in India’ has placed the State only in the 17th rank compared on an all-India level.”

Referring to the 19 cancer hospitals proposed to be set up by the Tata group at different locations in the State, Bora stated that “the Sonowal government should not feel euphoric over it by claiming that it is a result of its much touted ‘Advantage Assam’ programme. In fact, Ratan Tata had made the commitment way back in 2014 when the Congress government was in power. However, we do welcome Ratan Tata’s decision to go ahead with his commitment now.”

Bora further criticized the Centre for clipping the wings of North Eastern Council (NEC). Alleging that “the Modi Government has not only curtailed the power of NEC”, the APCC chief added: “Even the plenary council l— the highest policy-making body of the Council — has been bypassed. By taking away six crucial sectors, the Central Government has adversely affected the functional autonomy of the NEC.