The Joint Action Committee of Recognized Unions, (JACRU) Nagaon and Cachar Paper Mills, on Monday said there is no reason to believe the Narendra Modi-Sarbananda Sonowal government in any matter related to Assam.

The committee also demanded a white paper from the Assam government on the “investment of Rs 4,141 crore” in Hindustan Paper Corporation (HPC) during 2014-15 and 2018.

The committee in a statement said the Centre and the Assam government “destroyed” the Nagaon and Cachar paper mills and claimed that nothing has been done for the revival of the two mills.

The mills have been non-functional for the past few years.

Addressing a news conference here, committee president Manabendra Chakra-borty said Union minister for heavy industries Prakash Javadekar on July 9 said in Parliament that Rs 4,141 crore invested in HPC during 2014-15 and 2018 and asked for a “white paper” on the utilisation of funds.

“But it is known that during this period both the industries remain closed and altogether 60 workers/employees have died since the mills ceased to function. Three committed suicide because of non -payment of salary for 36 months. Chief minister (Sarbananda Sonowal) should release white paper to disclose the huge funds of Rs 4,141 crore utilised or siphoned off or misused,” he said.

Cachar Paper Mill, the only major industrial undertaking in Barak Valley, is located at Panchgram in Hailakandi district. The Nagaon mill is at Jagiroad in Morigaon district.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi betrayed the people of Assam by disrespecting his own commitment to revive the industries committed on March 27 in 2016. Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal also betrayed his repeated commitments delivered for the revival of the two paper industries of Assam. Both of them invariably misused their power to destroy both the industries and source of employments of two lakh youths and destroyed the rural economy of the state,” he said.

Chakraborty also said the industries with a value of more than Rs 5,000 crore was “going to be sold to favoured cronies” with nominal price of scrap materials.

“People involved in the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protest should not be swayed by the commitments being made by the government at present. Hence, they have lost all the credibility to be believed in any issue related to Assam and the Northeast,” he said.

The committee also expressed solidarity with the struggle against the amended citizenship act.

“We also paid our tributes to those who sacrificed their life in the movement against the CAA to protect the interest of Assam, its citizens, culture and heritage. We support all the struggles to save interest of Assam, its citizens, culture, employments and heritage,” he said.