New Delhi: In reaction to the decision made by Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to dispatch an all-party delegation to Assam to investigate the challenges faced by tea tribes, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced today that he would also send two delegations to Jharkhand for a similar purpose. However, Sarma did not clarify the specific objectives of the Assam teams during their visit to Jharkhand. Currently, Himanta Biswa is in Delhi, where he will remain for two days to engage with various ministers.
While addressing the media in Guwahati, Sarma stated, “During our cabinet meeting on December 5, we will reach decisions regarding our visit to certain areas in Jharkhand. We intend to observe two or three specific matters there.”
It is important to note that Hemant Soren, during his inaugural cabinet meeting on November 28, sanctioned a proposal to establish a team comprising representatives from all political parties and bureaucrats to assess the conditions of the “marginalised” tea tribes in Assam.
Soren’s decision was influenced by the ongoing electoral contest between the JMM-led coalition and the NDA, during which Sarma has consistently highlighted the challenges faced by Jharkhand’s tribal community, allegedly exacerbated by significant infiltration from Bangladesh.
On September 25, he communicated with Sarma, asserting that the tea tribes from Jharkhand are being marginalized in Assam, despite their considerable contributions to the economy.
Soren conveyed deep concern regarding the plight of the community and advocated for their acknowledgment as Scheduled Tribes.
“We would appreciate it if someone could attend to our needs, as we have numerous tasks to accomplish. A team is being dispatched here, but we will send two delegations to Jharkhand to address two specific matters. A decision will be made next week,” Sarma stated.
Sarma, who serves as the BJP’s co-in-charge for the assembly elections in Jharkhand, remarked, “They will come to meet us, and we will also visit them.”
In Assam, the tea tribes are classified as Other Backward Classes; however, they have long sought recognition as Scheduled Tribes. Various tea tribe organizations have frequently traveled to Delhi to participate in protests and demonstrations advocating for Scheduled Tribe status.
Both the state and central governments have shown reluctance to address the longstanding demands of the Assam tea tribes, although political parties often provide false assurances during election periods.
