Page 7 - Himanta Biswa Sarma

Travel advisory against Assam by foreign govts a hurdle to investment: CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that travel advisory against the northeastern region by several countries is a major challenge in attracting investments, even as the state gears up for a mega business summit here later this month. Sarma said he has requested the countries to view Assam in isolation and not club all the North Eastern states together. He said talks are already underway with Japan, Australia and other nations to persuade them to withdraw the adverse advisory as the local government is pushing for viewing Assam "in isolation" from the other states of the region. Addressing a press conference in the run-up to Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit', Sarma said, Most embassies have marked Assam in grey' and have a statutory warning for its citizens against visiting Assam, as the state is clubbed together as North East'. Removing these advisories is topmost priority for us. He said countries like Japan and Australia are being ..

Himanta questions Gaurav Gogoi, wife's ties with Pakistani advisor

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma continued to question Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi's British wife Elizabeth Colburn's links with Pakistan, alleging on Saturday that the "network is now emerging as far more significant and deeply entrenched than initially thought". He shared screenshots of old posts on X by Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, an advisor of the Pakistan Planning Commission and a former colleague of Colburn, and claimed that the relationship between the Gogois and the Pakistani national appeared to be deeply rooted'. Sarma had also targeted the Jorhat MP over the issue, demanding answers from Gogoi over the allegations of ISI links, "leading young individuals to the Pakistan embassy for brainwashing and radicalisation, and the refusal to take Indian citizenship for the past 12 years", referring to Colburn's nationality status. He had also alleged that Gogoi had raised questions in Parliament on sensitive defence matters after his marriage to the British citizen, a charge termed b

Assam Budget session to commence on Feb 17, will unite people: Dy speaker

Numal Momin further mentioned that several important bills are likely to be introduced in the session

Assam CM accuses Gaurav Gogoi of defence queries after marrying a Briton

Himanta Biswa Sarma's remarks came a day after BJP's national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia accused Gogoi's wife of having links with Pakistan's ISI

Assam CM welcomes Union Budget 2025, hails tax relief for middle class

CM Sarma expressed gratitude for the income tax exemption for individuals earning up to Rs 12 lakh annually, calling it a 'huge relief'

Dibrugarh to become Assam's second capital in 3 years: CM Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said the district headquarters of Dibrugarh will be developed as the second capital of the state within the next three years. Unfurling the national flag here on the occasion of Republic Day, Sarma said the government will construct a permanent building of the assembly in this city on the southern bank of Brahmaputra in Upper Assam. "Today is an important day in Dibrugarh's journey to become the second capital of Assam. For the first time, state celebrations are taking place in this historical city," he said. From 2027, one session of Assam assembly will take place in Dibrugarh every year, the CM announced. "From January 25 next year, the construction work for a permanent building of the Assam assembly will begin. In the next three years, Dibrugarh will become an important city in India," he said. As part of the government's urbanisation plan, Tezpur and Silchar will also be developed along with Dibrugarh, Sarma said. "Dibrugarh

Dibrugarh to be developed as second capital of Assam, says CM Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said the district headquarters of Dibrugarh will be developed as the second capital of the state within the next three years. Unfurling the national flag on the occasion of Republic Day, Sarma said the government will construct a permanent building of Assam assembly in this city on the southern bank of Brahmaputra in Upper Assam. "Today is an important day in Dibrugarh's journey to become the second capital of Assam. For the first time, state celebrations are taking place in this historical city," he said. From 2027, one session of Assam assembly will take place in Dibrugarh every year, the CM announced. "From January 25 next year, the construction work for a permanent building of the Assam assembly will begin. In the next three years, Dibrugarh will become an important city in India," he said. As part of the government's urbanisation plan, Tezpur and Silchar will also be developed along with Dibrugarh in the coming period, Sarma

Himanta pitches for investing in Assam before South Korean industrialists

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday pitched before industrialists in South Korea the locational, strategic and policy advantages of Assam, inviting them to invest here. He also emphasised the Centre's focus on the Northeast and the commitment of top business houses of the country to push for industrial growth in the region. "Advantage business ties! I began the day in Seoul by speaking to over 140 business leaders at the Advantage Assam roadshow, organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in South Korea," Sarma posted on X. The chief minister had reached Seoul on Sunday on a three-day trip to woo investors for the 'Advantage Assam 2.0' business summit, scheduled here on February 25 and 26. "Their enthusiasm towards being a part of #AdvantageAssam2 was phenomenal. The Korean business community was buoyed by India's position as the world's fastest growing major economy and the unique opportunities Assam can offer to them to access this market," he added. Sarma presented be

Himanta on visit to Seoul to invite investors for Advantage Assam Summit

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma embarked on a trip to South Korea and Japan on Sunday to invite prospective investors and entrepreneurs for the Advantage Assam Summit 2.0, a business conclave to be hosted by the state government here next month. He will attend roadshows presenting the summit during the visits, with such events being held in a total of eight countries. "Namaste South Korea. Look forward to having engaging discussions with industry leaders and agencies during my 3-day visit starting today to showcase Assam's potential ahead of the #AdvantageAssam2 Summit and to take forward the warm Indo-Korea ties," Sarma posted on X as he flew to Seoul. In another post, the CM said the visit to the two Asian countries will be over a period of five days. "I am shortly leaving for Seoul and Tokyo on a 5 day visit to present our vision of #AdvantageAssam2 to prospective investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders," he said in the post just after midnight on Sunday. "During

Finfluencer Abhishek Kar draws flak for comments on Assam, issues apology

Abhishek Kar, a popular financial influencer, apologised after his remarks on Assam's 'tantric practices' sparked outrage, drawing action from the CM's office

Army, SDRF, and other agencies continue rescue ops in Assam's Umrangso

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister discussed the rescue operation with Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy and sought assistance

3 dead, 6 trapped in flooded Assam coal mine; rescue efforts continue

Nine workers, aged between 26 and 57, became trapped when water inundated the mine, believed to be the result of damaging an underground water source during excavation

Army, navy engaged in rescuing 9 labourers trapped in Assam coal mine

Army personnel have been engaged to rescue the nine labourers trapped inside a coal mine in Assam's Dima Hasao district, officials said on Tuesday. A relief task force with specialists such as divers and sappers, equipped with essential tools, reached the site in Umrangso to rescue the miners, a defence spokesperson said. 'Engineers task force with equipment, divers and medical teams from the Indian army and the Assam Rifles have joined the rescue efforts', he said. All efforts are underway in close coordination with the civil administration to rescue the trapped people, another official said. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma thanked the army for extending their help in the rescue operations. 'Much gratitude for this quick response. We are deploying all possible efforts to ensure the safe return of our miners', the chief minister posted on 'X'. NDRF and SDRF personnel are also at the site to rescue the miners trapped inside the coal mine. Two water pumping machines were also p

CM Sarma pushes banks to shed funding unease over projects in Assam

Assam asks MFIs to identify borrowers to get balance payments

CM Himanta to meet industry leaders in Mumbai for Assam business summit

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said he will be in Mumbai for the next three days to meet industry leaders to explore areas of collaboration for an upcoming business conclave in the northeastern state. He will also participate in a roadshow to invite potential investors to Assam. For the next 3 days, I'll be in Mumbai to meet the leaders of India Inc and explore areas of mutual collaboration for the upcoming #AdvantageAssam 2.0 Summit. I will also participate in the Road Show to invite potential investors to the land of limitless opportunities Assam, Sarma wrote on X. The Advantage Assam conclave, to be held on February 24-25, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the CM had recently said. The summit aims at creating an ecosystem that supports innovation, provides easier access to capital, removing bureaucratic hurdles to create an atmosphere for businesses and industries to be set up in Assam, Sarma had said. The state government is focusing o

Himanta vowed to make Assam top 5, now he is one of the richest CMs: Gogoi

While Sarma is among the wealthiest, Assam ranks 31st in the Human Development Index (HDI), which points out a gap between the state's economic progress and the chief minister's wealth

Influx from B'desh not by Hindus but 'majority community' members: Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said that the influx from Bangladesh into the state in recent months is mostly by the "majority community" of the neighbouring country and not by the minority Hindus there. Those who are entering India illegally are workers of the textile industry in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, which are in bad shape following the crisis there, and they want to go to Tamil Nadu to join the same sector, he claimed. The southern state is ruled by the DMK, a constituent of the INDIA bloc. "The situation in Bangladesh has led to the collapse of the textile industry in that country. The workers, who are majority there but a minority in our country, are trying to cross the border," the chief minister said during an interaction with journalists here. They are trying to enter the country to go to the textile industries in Tamil Nadu, and "owners of these industries are incentivising them to come to get cheap labour," he said. The Hindu minorities in th

Sad to see Cong doing politics over Manmohan Singh's cremation: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday accused the Congress of attempting to stir a controversy over the cremation of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, despite the Centre announcing a fitting memorial to honour his legacy. Sarma said it was not the first time that the Congress has "shown such disregard be it towards the legacy of Narasimha Rao or Pranab Mukherjee, the party has, unfortunately, treated its own with indifference. The CM's remarks came after the Congress accused the Centre of insulting Singh, the country's first Sikh prime minister, by performing his last rites at Nigambodh Ghat instead of a designated spot that could be turned into his memorial. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had said the BJP-led Centre had "totally insulted" Singh by performing his last rites at Nigambodh Ghat. The BJP maintained that the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi had allocated space for Singh's memorial and also informed his family about it,

Assam govt announces 7-day mourning in honour of former PM Manmohan Singh

The Assam government has declared a seven-day state mourning in honour of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday. The national flag will fly at half mast at all state government establishments and all official entertainment programmes are cancelled, he said. The state mourning, beginning from December 12 will last till January 1, 2025. 'As a mark of respect to Dr Manmohan Singh Ji, former Prime Minister of India, Government of Assam will observe a period of 7-day state mourning from 26.12.2024 to 01.01.2025. During this period the national flag will fly at half mast at all state government establishments and all official entertainment programmes are cancelled', the chief minister posted on X. Manmohan Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms, died in Delhi on Thursday night at the age of 92. He was the prime minister during 2004-14 The former prime minister was a Rajya Sabha member from Assam for five consecutive terms from

Congress shameless party, using Ambedkar for political gains: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday termed the Congress as a "shameless" party which is using Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's name for "political gains" only. He claimed that Congress had launched innumerable schemes and established many institutions in the name of leaders from Jawaharlal Nehru's family, but there was no such establishment after Ambedkar. "Congress does not have any shame. The party which imposed emergency, suspended the Constitution, killed democracy, that Congress is doing processions in the name of the Constitution, and it shows that they don't have any shame. It will not be an exaggeration if they are termed as shameless," Sarma told reporters here. He said that the Congress rolled out Indira Gandhi Awas Yojana, launched many schemes in the name of Rajiv Gandhi and named many big universities in the country after Jawaharlal Nehru. "...but have you dedicated even one scheme in the name of Babasaheb Ambedkar? Forget university, but have you even named a