Few months ahead of Assam legislative elections, Prime Minister Modi while addressing a public gathering at Dhekiajuli on his one-day visit to Assam alleged that a conspiracy had been devised abroad to defame Indian and Assam tea.
Claiming that he linked the condition of the tea workers to the development of Assam, Modi said, "But documents have emerged to show that a conspiracy has been hatched outside the country to defame Indian tea. I am sure the tea workers from Assam will give a befitting reply to these forces."
"But I want to tell the conspirators that no matter how much you conspire, the country won't allow you to succeed. The tea workers will win this battle. Those who are conspiring to launch an attack on Indian tea, they are not strong enough to confront the strength of our tea workers," he added.
Though the Prime Minister added no further, it seems the Prime Minister was referring to the toolkit shared by climate-activist Greta Thunberg which calls for a disruption of "India's tea and yoga image" while extending solidarity to the protesting farmers in Delhi.
The state has witnessed development in health and infrastructure in the last five years of BJP-led leadership, Modi claimed. He said a medical college and technical institution would be set up to impart education in regional languages if elected again. Recounting the various initiatives enacted for the tea worker population, he emphasized the scheme of financial support to pregnant tea garden women and other DBT schemes. He also added that Rs 1000 crores were set away in the budget for the tea sector.
"Assam's happiness and progress are Assam's tea gardens. The red tea of Sonitpur is known for its special flavour. Who knows the taste of Assam tea better than me? That's why I always see the progress of tea workers with the progress of Assam," the PM said.
The Prime Minister visited the state to lay the foundation stone for two medical colleges at Biswanath and Charaideo districts and launch the Asom Mala scheme to upgrade state highways. The support of the significant population of tea plantation workers can decide political parties' fate in the upcoming polls.