Hemant Soren’s ‘Tea Tribes’ Attack on Himanta Biswa Sarma

• Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Hemant Soren is attempting to counter Himanta Biswa Sarma’s attack on alleged Bangladeshi influx into Jharkhand.
• Soren is attempting to raise the issue of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the ‘tea tribes’, who are descendants of people from multiple tribal and caste groups brought to tea estates by British planters.
• The seven-million-strong community has long agitated for ST status.
• Soren claimed tea tribes were marginalized despite their significant contribution to Assam’s economy.
• Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader, Amit Bhelari, argues that Soren’s approach shows concern for the tribals of other states.
• Soren is also attempting to counter BJP’s attempts to woo tribal voters in Jharkhand by highlighting alleged demographic change and population decline.