Agartala, December 24, 2025: The Pradesh Congress has accused the Modi government’s so-called “New India” agricultural and industrial revolution of plunging farmers and workers into deep economic distress, leaving the future of the youth increasingly uncertain. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, party spokesperson Prabir Chakraborty said the impact of these policies is becoming evident in the state as well.
Chakraborty alleged that despite ministers and the Chief Minister attempting to mask the situation through publicity campaigns and advertisements, the truth is surfacing. He pointed to the state’s traditional tea industry, which has recently become the center of controversy due to government initiatives and promotional drives.
Programs such as “Run for Tea” are organized with fanfare every year, but large and old tea estates are facing mounting problems. According to Chakraborty, government-backed ruling party leaders are increasingly interfering in the sector. He criticized the Agriculture Minister’s plan to plant apple and mango trees in tea gardens, warning that such measures could severely damage the industry.
Traditionally, tea estates have relied on shade trees like eucalyptus, banana, and koroi, which are suited to local soil and economically viable. Chakraborty questioned whether any scientific study had been conducted to assess the suitability of mango trees, noting that workers, producers, and residents remain in the dark.
Experts consulted by the Congress have cautioned that palm species absorb surface water rapidly, reducing soil fertility and potentially harming tea production.
The party further alleged that since 2018, the Tea Development Board has been largely inactive in promoting industry growth or worker welfare, focusing instead on facilitating corporate interests. This, they claimed, has enriched certain officials and ruling alliance members personally.
Citing the 1960 Land Reform Act, Chakraborty reminded that only tea factories and worker housing are legally permitted in tea estates. Yet, allegations have surfaced of palm, coconut, areca nut, and even cannabis cultivation in gardens, allegedly under government–mafia collusion. He recalled that when rubber plantations were once promoted by portraying tea as unprofitable, the state government was forced to ban the practice through legislation.
Political observers argue that these developments are not isolated, but part of the BJP-led “triple engine” government’s broader policy of opening natural resources and agriculture to domestic and foreign corporates. Congress claims this policy has been in effect in the state since 2018.
Meanwhile, questions have also been raised about the role of Patanjali Trust, owned by Baba Ramdev, a corporate group seen as close to the Modi government. Courts, including the Supreme Court, have flagged concerns over the quality of Patanjali’s medicines and food products, with several rulings finding the company guilty and ordering corrective action. Reports suggest that Patanjali once supplied food and medicines to the armed and paramilitary forces, but this was halted following judicial observations.
