APCC president Ripun Bora moves PM Modi to stay auction of HPC paper mills

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: APCC (Assam Pradesh Congress Committee) president Ripun Bora has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking for his intervention to stop the auction of Nagaon and Cachar paper mills which will take place on Monday.

Bora urged the PM to take steps to revive the said two HPC (Hindustan Paper Corporation) paper mills as 'promised' by the Modi government.

In his letter, Bora has mentioned that it is his fourth letter to the office of Prime Minister since 2018 regarding providing a special economic package to revive the two paper mills of Assam 'which have been closed down without any proper notice.'

"While acknowledging my letter by your office in every acknowledging letter it was assured that the matter would be looked into properly and we people in Assam were in great hope that the two paper mills will be revived soon," Bora wrote.

The APCC president underlined that former and Finance Minister Late Arun Jaitley and current finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had also assured to revive these mills "very loudly and clearly".

He pointed out that the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) during its election campaigns in the State during 2014, 2016, 2019 even in recently concluded Assembly polls made the same commitment to revive the paper mills.

"The employees of these two paper mills, their family members, the people, bamboo growers, unemployed youths, small businessmen, bamboo suppliers etc in particular and the people of Assam, in general, are expecting that government will never go to take such harsh decision to sell these two paper mills to private parties with huge landed property more than 2,000 acres of land," said Bora.

The officers and employees association of the two paper mills ultimately compelled to move NCLAT and NCLAT on order dated 29-05-2019 passed order directing the Government of India for infusion of funds to ensure that the company remains a going on company while Assam government vide petition dated 10-09-2020 expressed interest to take over the two industries, the letter stated.

In his letter, Bora also stressed that the employees of the two paper mills have not been paid their salaries for the last couple of years, more than 100 employees died for want of medical treatment, several employees committed suicide out of depression thinking about their future.

"It is a gross violation of God gifted and Constitutionally protected human rights by depriving the employees of their due salary and allowances. Considering the present horrible economic condition and COVID-19 pandemic situation you are requested to please release all the outstanding salaries, allowances and other dues to the employees and officers of the two paper mills without further delay," appealed Bora to the PM.

It is to be noted that the letter was also forwarded to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Also Read: All India Mahila Congress Appeals to Assam Government to Save HPC Paper Mills