Guwahati, Sep 1 : The tea community, the Congress’s most loyal vote bank, has threatened to launch an anti-party agitation if a host of its demands, including a Rs 500-crore package and Scheduled Tribe status, were not fulfilled before the parliamentary elections.
Two influential tea organisations met last night to launch a joint movement for the socio-economic development of the community and ended up drawing the charter of demands.
The All Assam Tea Tribes Students Association (AATTSA) and the All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam AASAA, which discussed the nitty-gritty of their movement last night, felt the government had long exploited the differences in opinion between various tea organisations and hence it was time they launched a united effort.
“In the last panchayat elections, the AATTSA had decided to boycott it, whereas we (AASAA) were in favour of putting up our own candidates. As a result, the Congress took advantage of our divergent views,” said an AASAA leader.
The student organisations said this time all political leaders of the tea/Adivasi community cutting across political lines have endorsed their four-point charter of demands.
AATTSA leader Prahlad Gowala said apart from the economic package, the two student organisations also demanded 15 per cent job reservation for the community in all government services and three ministerial berths.
At present, there is only one minister from the community in the Tarun Gogoi-led government.
Gowala said they have sought three ministerial berths since the community constitutes 20 per cent of the total population of the state. “Since we constitute 20 per cent of the state’s total population, it is natural for us to get 20 per cent representation in the ministry,” Gowala said.
The community’s long-pending demand for Scheduled Tribe status was also included in its current list.
At the end of the meeting, the list of demands was faxed to the chief minister in the form of a memorandum by the two associations, Gowala said.
The associations wanted of the government to fulfil their demands before the parliamentary elections.
If the demands were not fulfilled before the elections, the organisations would aggressively campaign against the ruling Congress.
“The Congress cannot go away with the votes of our community so cheaply every time. This time we will ensure that it do some serious work for our development to get votes in return,” Gowala added.
The tea community traditionally supports the Congress and despite agitation and resentment against Dispur, the community has steadfastly stood by the party during elections.
Two influential tea organisations met last night to launch a joint movement for the socio-economic development of the community and ended up drawing the charter of demands.
The All Assam Tea Tribes Students Association (AATTSA) and the All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam AASAA, which discussed the nitty-gritty of their movement last night, felt the government had long exploited the differences in opinion between various tea organisations and hence it was time they launched a united effort.
“In the last panchayat elections, the AATTSA had decided to boycott it, whereas we (AASAA) were in favour of putting up our own candidates. As a result, the Congress took advantage of our divergent views,” said an AASAA leader.
The student organisations said this time all political leaders of the tea/Adivasi community cutting across political lines have endorsed their four-point charter of demands.
AATTSA leader Prahlad Gowala said apart from the economic package, the two student organisations also demanded 15 per cent job reservation for the community in all government services and three ministerial berths.
At present, there is only one minister from the community in the Tarun Gogoi-led government.
Gowala said they have sought three ministerial berths since the community constitutes 20 per cent of the total population of the state. “Since we constitute 20 per cent of the state’s total population, it is natural for us to get 20 per cent representation in the ministry,” Gowala said.
The community’s long-pending demand for Scheduled Tribe status was also included in its current list.
At the end of the meeting, the list of demands was faxed to the chief minister in the form of a memorandum by the two associations, Gowala said.
The associations wanted of the government to fulfil their demands before the parliamentary elections.
If the demands were not fulfilled before the elections, the organisations would aggressively campaign against the ruling Congress.
“The Congress cannot go away with the votes of our community so cheaply every time. This time we will ensure that it do some serious work for our development to get votes in return,” Gowala added.
The tea community traditionally supports the Congress and despite agitation and resentment against Dispur, the community has steadfastly stood by the party during elections.
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