Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reacted to Congress leader and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge’s criticism over the setting up of semiconductor manufacturing units in Assam and Gujarat by the Centre saying that the grand old party has an agenda to oppose the development of the northeastern state.

Sarma posted in X, “Once again, Congress shows its true colours by opposing Assam’s development. A Karnataka minister, who is also the son of the Congress national president, claims that 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 and progress.”

Priyank Kharge posted on his social media handle, “Five semicon manufacturing units, four are in Gujarat, and one is in Assam, but they don’t have an ecosystem of skills there. They don’t have an ecosystem of research there. They don’t have an ecosystem of incubation. They don’t have a system of ecosystem of innovations…when 70% of the chip designing talent lies in Karnataka, I don’t understand why the government wants to push to another state by using political clout.That is unfair.”

In March this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for four semiconductor projects worth about Rs 1.25 lakh crore. The facilities inaugurated include three semiconductor facilities in Gujarat and one in Assam’s Morigaon.

On August 3, the Bhumi pujan(ground breaking ) of Rs 27,000 crore semiconductor assembly and test facility at Jagiroad in Morigaon district of Assam was performed. The facility is expected to be operational by 2025.

The ceremony was attended by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran.N Chandrasekaran said that a crore chip assembly plant in Assam will create 27,000 jobs and is expected to become operational in 2025. The company has already employed 1,000 people from Assam and as the facility expands it will bring entire semiconductor ecosystem companies.