KMSS activists storm Pradhan roadshow

Guwahati: Activists of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), a pro-peasant outfit, on Saturday stormed a hotel where Union minister for petroleum Dharmendra Pradhan was holding a roadshow to attract bidders for small oil fields in the state.
While the activists demonstrated against the auction of oil fields, state industries minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, who was present at the roadshow, promptly reached out to prospective investors and told them that the state government would not allow such protests to hamper development.
Trying to allay investors' fears, Patowary said, "Don't be discouraged by naare baazi (sloganeering). Our government is clear that Assam should be transformed into a developed state. We will extend all cooperation to investors for the sake of the state."
The protesters demonstrated for almost an hour before police charged baton to disperse them. KMSS adviser Akhil Gogoi and some other activists were detained by security forces.
"The government has been saying that these fields were left unexplored for years because they were not commercially viable. How will auctioning make them viable? BJP came to power on the promise of protecting Assam's jati, mati, bheti (identity, land and homeland). We are against auctioning of Assam's land to corporate houses," Akhil said.
Reacting to the protest, Pradhan said the government needed money to fund its development schemes. He added that the government's priority was to open up employment opportunities in the state. The minister added that the grievances of the protesters could be solved through dialogue with the government, not through demonstration.