PM Modi in Sonitpur
GUWAHATI: Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated a big part of his address on the tea community in Assam, a section of students hit the streets on Sunday against the delay in granting of ST status to the tea tribes here.
The Assam Tea Tribe Students’ Association (ATTSA) led the protests against the PM’s visit and burnt tyres on highways and the PM’s effigy in various tea gardens in northern Assam since Saturday night.
“Our members burnt effigies of PM Modi in several tea garden areas in Sonitpur and Biswanath districts. We are upset over the prolonged delay in granting Schedule Tribe (ST) status to the tea tribes in the state and the failure of the BJP-led government in ensuring Rs 351 daily wage to the tea garden workers. These are main issues, leave out the rest,” said Basanta Kurmi, organizing secretary at Assam Tea Tribe Students’ Association (ATTSA).