DIGBOI, Nov 15 - Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, while unveiling a life-sized statue of Bir Birsha Munda, the Adivasi martyr in the earliest part of the Freedom Struggle in the present Jharkhand State, at Margherita today, urged the tea community to come forward and strengthen the Congress party. The Congress alone has stood by the poor and worked for social justice to the tea community members.
Calling Munda a national hero, the Chief Minister said that his statues would be installed at various places of the State including Guwahati. Announcing a special development package of Rs 100 crore for the uplift of the tea community of the State, Gogoi promised to provide housing facilities to them in the coming days.
What appeared to be a rehearsal for the forthcoming election campaign, the Chief Minister took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the BJP stands by the rich class and city dwellers alone. The Congress always stands by the poor and the rural side, he claimed.
As against Modi�s project of Smart Cities, his government has concentrated on the project of Smart Villages. Gogoi also targeted his former colleague, Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Pradyut Bordoloi, Margherita MLA and former minister, had taken the initiative to install the statue of Birsa Munda as a mark of homage to his heroic resistance to British imperialism in India. Introducing the unveiling ceremony, Bordoloi spoke at length on Birsa Munda�s life and patriotic struggle.
The programme was also addressed by Atuwa Munda, Pawan Singh Ghatowar, Rajinder Prasad Singh, Pradeep Naag, president of All Assam Adivasi Students� Union and Bishop Michael Harange. The statue was made by noted architect Lakhyajit Borah.
