DIBRUGARH, March 2 - Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary�s comments in the State Assembly on the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) have resulted in heated responses from the Sangha.
The Sangha�s central committee general secretary, Dileswar Tanti today retorted that the BJP seems to be working in the interests of the capitalists and not the tea garden workers. He said Patowary does not know anything about the tea workers� movement in the State, which is why he remarked that the ACMS should be wound up.
Tanti called upon the State government to ensure payment of fair wages to all tea workers in the State and refrain from making �anti-labour remarks�.
He said the loss of the Assam Tea Corporation Limited is a result of mismanagement by the State government and not because of workers.
The ATCL is said to have incurred an accumulated loss of Rs 510 crore, and Patowary has been reported to have said that the government-held company is in no position to pay enhanced labour wages.
Elsewhere, the Panitola branch also condemned Patowary for his reported remark on �closing down the ACMS�. Its Panitola branch president, Raju Sahu today demanded that Patowary withdraw his remark and apologize to the tea garden workers.
