Guwahati, March 13 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that by granting land rights to tea workers within garden housing lines, the BJP-led government is ending a "historic injustice" towards the community.
Addressing the Congress, Modi said the opposition party never adequately supported tea garden workers during its tenures.
"We have given them land deeds, and I must congratulate the Assam government for ending a historic injustice towards tea garden workers," the PM said at an official event here, as he inaugurated projects worth approximately Rs 19,680 crore, focusing on infrastructure and energy sectors.
He also launched the 22nd installment of the PM-KISAN scheme for over 9.3 crore farmers across the country at the same event.
Modi initiated the process of granting land rights to tea garden workers in housing or labour lines within the estate premises, with 28,241 families receiving them in the first phase. The PM ceremonially handed over the deeds to three families at the event.
"Actually, I am repaying my debt by giving land deeds to all tea garden workers. The tea leaves produced by you reached Gujarat, and by selling tea brewed from it, I have reached this position today. I have your blessings," alluding to his "chaiwala" profession, drawing applause from the gathering.
He maintained that while the tea garden workers have given Assam and India recognition at the global level, the previous Congress government never even inquired about them.
The PM said that Assam is becoming a model for all northeastern states, and its development in the last 10 years is leaving an imprint in West Bengal, as people there want a "BJP government this time".
"The NDA government is known for empathy and good governance. We believe in development for all sections of society," he added.
Assembly elections in Assam and West Bengal are likely to be held in April.
Elaborating on the welfare steps of the BJP-led NDA government for farmers, Modi said, "We have insulated our farmers from global incidents like COVID-19 and wars."
He cited the example of the government spending more than Rs 12 lakh-crore in fertilizer subsidy to absorb the hike in international markets.
He claimed that the PM-KISAN scheme has drawn queries from developed nations, marvelling at how India was able to transfer money to bank accounts of crores of farmers with the click of a button.
Modi said that under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi (KISAN) scheme, more than Rs 4.25 lakh-crore has been deposited into the accounts of crores of farmers so far. These include about 19 lakh farmers in Assam, who have received nearly Rs 8,000 crore till date.
Stressing that the welfare of farmers was crucial for his government, Modi said a security net was being developed around them through various measures like enhanced MSP, affordable loans, crop insurance and schemes such as PM-KISAN.
"The Congress gave Rs 6.5 lakh-crore as MSP in 10 years before 2014, while we have provided Rs 20 lakh-crore in the last decade," he pointed out.
Without elaborating, the prime minister said the Congress was spreading misinformation "even amid the West Asia war situation".
Modi also said the Congress kept India dependent on foreign nations for decades, but the NDA government changed that gradually, focusing on achieving self-reliance in all sectors from agriculture to energy.
He said the government's vision is to connect farming with new technology, including new methods of irrigation, and also encourage natural farming.
Modi also mentioned that India was expanding the capacity of its refineries and has emerged as a "country that can take care not only of its own energy needs but also of the requirements of the world".
He pointed to the expansion of Assam refineries over the past few years, as well as investment in gas pipeline infrastructure across the state and the entire North East region.
The PM further said significant work has been done over the past decade to reduce the railways' dependence on foreign resources and minimise oil imports.
Stating that the country was on its way to achieve 100 per cent railway track electrification, he said, "Due to railway electrification, the country is saving nearly 1.75 billion litres of diesel, and Assam's railway network is also being rapidly electrified."
He also said that Assam is playing a significant role in fulfilling the nation's renewable energy commitments, with the projects also creating new avenues of employment for the youth.
Referring to the cruise terminal foundation that was laid by him during the programme, Modi said these are merely infrastructure projects, but a step that will give a new direction to tourism and the local economy.
The current government has not limited tourism to just sightseeing but has viewed it as a major opportunity for employment and development, he added.