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Dibrugarh, March 15 : The Union minister of state for chemicals and fertilisers, B.K. Handique, and the former Dibrugarh MP, Paban Singh Ghatowar, today said the Assam Tea Tribes Students Association would not be a cause of concern for the Congress in the ensuing polls.

Their comment comes after the influential association threatened to stage protests against the Congress for its alleged failure on all fronts and particularly for the stunted development of the tea community.

The two important Congress candidates from the tea belt, however, virtually laughed off the threat. Addressing the media at the Dibrugarh District Congress Committee office this morning, Handique, the party’s candidate from Jorhat parliamentary constituency and Ghatowar, the candidate from Dibrugarh, said the ATTSA threat would not affect the Congress’ prospects.

The ATTSA had issued similar threats during the panchayat elections too and many people thought it would have an impact, particularly after the Beltola episode, Handique said. “However, it proved to be mere words. Actually, organisations like ATTSA do not have any base at the grassroots level. This is why no one takes them seriously,” he added.

after formally announcing his candidature.

Ghatowar said organisations like ATTSA try to raise a hue and cry only during the elections because they have political intentions. “They are not concerned about the well being of the tea community. If they are, they should come forward and discuss their problems, merely issuing so-called threats through certain newspapers or channels would not serve any purpose,” Ghatowar added.

Handique, however, said the party if voted to power once again would amend certain laws like the Plantation Labour Act, 1951, Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 and Industrial Dispute Act, 1948 among others.

On the ailing Assam Tea Corporation Limited (ATCL) gardens, the Union minister said the government is looking for good buyers to sell these gardens off as a whole.

“Though there are some responses, they are not willing to shoulder the huge liabilities of ATCL. We will have to sort out these issues. I am happy that the state government has adopted schemes to better health care facilities in the tea gardens through the National Rural Health Mission. A Rs 150-crore fund has already been sanctioned for the tea estates, and more steps will soon be taken,” Hondique said.

Both the Dibrugarh and Jorhat parliamentary constituencies however, have a sizeable tea voter’s population and it would be interesting to watch what the ATTSA does after today’s development.