Guwahati, June 24: In a scathing attack on the ruling BJP, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has accused the government of deliberately betraying the Adivasi and tea tribe communities of Assam and plotting the systematic destruction of the state’s tea industry for corporate gain.
Addressing a press conference at Rajiv Bhawan, APCC working president and former MLA Roselina Tirkey said the BJP government has failed to deliver on its repeated promises of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for Assam’s tea tribes and Adivasi population—despite pledging to do so within 100 days of coming to power.
“In other states, Adivasis enjoy ST status. But here in Assam, the BJP continues to deceive these communities, using promises as bait for votes,” said Tirkey. She further highlighted the lack of basic healthcare, education, infrastructure, and economic security in tea garden areas, especially for women and children.
Former MLAs Raju Sahu and Etowa Munda, and youth leader Pranjal Ghatowar also participated in the press meet, calling out what they described as calculated neglect and exploitation of tea communities.
Pranjal Ghatowar slammed the government for failing tea tribe youth, alleging that a lack of education and employment opportunities has forced many to migrate, sometimes with fatal consequences. He accused Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of using “emotional manipulation” instead of delivering real development. “Schools are built, but there are no teachers. Youth are unemployed and desperate,” he said.
Ghatowar also alleged that the government doles out token bank transfers before elections to buy votes, while ignoring structural development. Raju Sahu went further, accusing the BJP of pushing tea workers into malnutrition and anemia, with many unable to donate blood due to poor health. He claimed that the average tea worker now weighs less than 50 kg.
Sahu also raised alarms over alleged land misuse, claiming that the government has amended laws to permit up to 10% of tea garden land to be used for non-agricultural purposes. According to him, ministers and MLAs are acquiring tea estate lands for private commercial ventures. He cited the sale of 6,000 bighas from Sukanpukhuri and Kachujan tea gardens in Tinsukia to people linked to the Chief Minister. “If 600 bighas are sold at ₹3 crore per bigha, that’s ₹1,800 crore. Who is Himanta Biswa Sarma enriching by dismantling Assam’s tea estates?” Sahu questioned.
He also condemned the alleged failure of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme in tea garden regions. Sahu referenced the rape of a Class VIII girl from Kattani village, allegedly by BJP leader Samudra Roy, who remains free two years later. The victim’s mother, Budhuni Prasad, reportedly died by suicide after being threatened. “This is the Chief Minister’s real concern for tea tribes,” Sahu said.
Etowa Munda, another tea tribe leader and former MLA, stated that under the Congress, Adivasi communities benefitted from schemes that the BJP has since dismantled. “Today, there are only broken promises—no fair wages, no scholarships, no drinking water, no healthcare,” he said.
Concluding the press conference, Munda declared that the tea tribe community, under Gaurav Gogoi’s leadership, is united and prepared to resist the BJP’s policies and “expose their betrayal.” The event was organized by Bedabrata Bora, chairman of the APCC Media Department.
