All Assam Small Tea Growers’ Association burns minister’s effigy for comments against small tea growers

DOOMDOOMA: The effigy of State Industries and Commerce Minister Bimal Borah was burnt at Doomdooma on NH 37 on Wednesday by the members of the All Assam Small Tea Growers’ Association (AASTGA), Tinsukia district committee, in protest against his ‘unfavourable’ remarks about small tea farmers in the assembly on Tuesday.

In reply to a question raised by the Leader of the Opposition, Debabrata Saikia on the price of green leaves produced by the small tea growers (STG), the minister said that the small tea growers were not well-organized. So, the bought leaf factories were unable to pay them the due price because of non-production of quality leaves.

The AASTGA who felt aggrieved at the minister’s remark, termed it as ‘unfortunate’ at a time when they had to come out to the street to demand fair price for their produce.

The AASTGA, Tinsukia district committee in a press release said that in Tinsukia district alone, the STGs numbered 56,000 and 50% of the total tea leaves were produced in Tinsukia district alone. It, therefore, cautioned the minister to refrain from passing such remarks. Else, the STGs would be left with no other alternative but taking recourse to agitational path The protest was attended by the AASTGA, Tinsukia district committee president Md Amin, secretary Ajit Gogoi and other office bearers of the organization.

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