Tea garden workers take to streets to protest against CAB 2019, demand ST status

Our Correspondent

DIGBOI: Shouting slogans against the Sarbananda Sonowal-led BJP government in Assam, the people of the tea tribe community hailing from various tea gardens in the Digboi-Pengaree area took out a massive rally to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, from Brahmajan Tinali to Pengree Charali under Pengaree police station in Tinsukia district.

The protesters assembled under the banner of Assam Mazdoor Sangha, All Assam Tea Tribe Student Association (AATTSA) and other tea tribe bodies. They burnt the effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at Pengaree Charali for being ‘indifferent’ towards the bonafide cause of the State of Assam in regard to the implementation of CAB, 2019.

The tea garden workers had to abstain from their daily tea garden work to take part in the protest. AATTSA activists demanded that CAB, 2019 should be withdrawn, ST status to the people of the tea tribe community should be granted and the daily wage of the garden workers should be hiked to Rs 350 per day.

The protesters held a mass meeting at the playground of Pengaree High School where the policy of the government was vehemently criticized and BJP leaders were lambasted for their ‘anti-people’ outlook. Similar protest rally was conducted by the organization near Margherita also. Amongst others, the meeting was attended by tea tribe leaders, Congress leader Gautam Dhanowar, AATTSA leader Kamal Tanti, AASU activist Biplob Neog and Debojit Sunar, an activist of the Pengaree-Bordumsa unit of AJYCP.

Also Read: Assam News