Priyanka Gandhi dons Assamese 'mekhela chadar'; plucks tea leaves with workers

BISWANATH: A day after prime minister Narendra Modi made headlines by donning the Assamese 'gamusa' while taking his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has popularized another Assamese garment -- the mekhela chadar -- during her whirlwind tour of Assam.

 

Earlier today, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited the Sadharu Tea Estate in Biswanath district, where she interacted with the locals and enquired about their concerns ahead of the polls.

 

Gandhi, during her interactions with the tea tribes, asked them about their wages and other concerns.

She also informed the tea tribes about the Centre's new farm laws that have triggered massive protests across India.

 

https://www.facebook.com/ne.inside/videos/565746174382177

 

"All their policies are meant to help the rise at the cost of hampering the progress of poor," Gandhi told the laborers.

 

On Saturday, the Assam government increased the wages of tea garden workers from Rs 167 to Rs 217, coming on the heels of a long-standing demand of the community for an increase and political promises for the same.

 

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At one point of time, Gandhi Vadra also joined the tea workers in plucking leaves.

 

The video, posted from the official profile of the 'Assam Bachao', has garnered praise from netizens.

 

"A leader should always be in between the general people," wrote one user, while another said, "Ma'am we are so proud to see you in tea garden........ Knowing the problem of tea worker......... We look forward to seeing a great change in Assam as well as our country. (sic)"

 

It needs mention here that the Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has come to Assam on a two-day to campaign for Assembly polls. Gandhi, in a bid to reach out to the tea tribes -- which form a massive voting bloc -- has been campaigning amongst them.

 

Yesterday, she was also seen dancing 'jhumur' with members of the tea tribe community. Earlier today, she also visited some of the pluckers' houses in the Pratapgarh tea estate in Sonitpur district.

 

On Friday last, the Election Commission of India announced that Assam will go to Assembly elections in three phases beginning March 27.

 

The counting of votes will take place on May 2.