Dibrugarh, Dec 21: “I am a Chaiwala — and if I don’t understand the problems of tea garden workers, then who will think for them?” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday while laying the foundation stone for the new Ammonia-Urea Fertilizer Plant at Namrup.
Addressing a large gathering, Modi accused previous Congress governments of neglecting tea garden workers in Assam, especially on the issue of land ownership. “Tea garden workers living in Assam for decades were not given land rights and were neglected by the Congress. But we think for the people of the tea gardens and have provided land rights so they can live with dignity,” he said.
Modi also launched a sharp attack on Congress over illegal immigration, alleging that the party prioritises “vote bank politics” over national interest. “Congress supports illegal immigrants and criticises us when we take strong steps. They opposed the SIR process to shield illegal immigrants, but BJP stands firm,” he said, adding that the party would continue to act against illegal migration from Bangladesh.
With Assembly elections approaching in 2026, Modi once again reached out to Assam’s influential tea garden community, reiterating his own association with tea.
The community plays a decisive role in nearly 35 of the 126 constituencies, and over 80 lakh people in the state are linked to the 200-year-old tea industry.
The Prime Minister’s remarks came days after the Assam Assembly passed The Assam Fixation of Ceiling on Land Holding (Amendment) Bill, 2025 — a major step toward granting land pattas to thousands of tea garden workers living in labour lines. The move is seen as a significant political marker ahead of the polls.
Modi also accused Congress of ignoring the sentiments and contributions of the Assamese people.
“Congress was not happy when we gave Bharat Ratna to Dr Bhupen Hazarika. They always oppose Assam’s culture and work only for politics,” he alleged.
With the BJP ramping up statewide rallies, Modi’s Namrup address signals the start of a more aggressive campaign phase — with the tea community at its centre.
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