As the Lok Sabha election scheduled for April 19th draws near, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has kickstarted its campaign in Margherita, rallying behind Manoj Dhanowar, the party's candidate for the 13th Dibrugarh Lok Sabha HPC.
On Tuesday, Rajesh Sharma, the North East Incharge of AAP visited Ledo Tea Estate, situated within the 83rd constituency of Margherita, Tinsukia district. Sharma advocated for Dhanowar's candidacy highlighting the dire situation of the region's tea garden workers, exacerbated by the poor road conditions they endure.
Sharma criticized the incumbent BJP-led government's policies, particularly concerning the welfare of tea garden laborers. He lamented the stagnation in the living standards of these workers over the past decade, attributing it to what he described as exploitation and neglect by successive governments.
"The tea garden workers of Assam are enduring a medieval existence due to the apathy of both the former Congress government and the current BJP regime," Sharma said. He highlighted the deplorable state of infrastructure, inadequate healthcare facilities, absence of drainage systems and the failure to distribute land pattas promised by the ruling party.
Sharma also drew attention to the glaring wage disparity between Assam's tea garden workers and their counterparts in other states, citing the meager daily wage of Rs 251 as an example of the exploitation faced by the workers.
Directing at the BJP, Sharma criticized the decision to field a non-Tea Tribe candidate from the 13th Dibrugarh Lok Sabha constituency, alleging discrimination against the Tea Tribes/Adivasi community. He expressed confidence that the tea garden voters would deliver a resounding rebuke to the BJP in the upcoming election.