In what could be embarrassing for his own government, Assam industry minister Pradyut Bordoloi here on Saturday claimed that a new breed of blackmailers pretending to be activists are threatening to derail many
ongoing industrial projects in the state. Mr Bordoloi told reporters that most of industrial projects in the state are facing protest from little-known organisations. “The leaders of these fledgling organisations are trying to extort money from investors for allowing them to set up business,” he said.
Visibly upset over this over this trend, the industry minister pointed out, “This is a serious problem that we are facing now. Organisations are born overnight and they threaten to block projects unless the investors cough up hefty amounts.”
He said that a handful of leaders mislead the unsuspecting people of areas where such industries are to be set up and then stage demonstrations against the new projects.
The protesters do not have any legitimate reason. “When asked they have not been able to specify any charges against the industries they oppose,” the minister said regretting, “‘During the day, these leaders lead the protest and at night, they negotiate with the investors to withdraw the agitation.”
The investors normally shy away from lodging a formal complaint as they fear repercussions at the project site. “The investors come to do business and try to avoid any confrontation. But situation has reached such a pass in some places that they have approached the government informally,” he informed.