Guwahati, Mar 10: Hemant Soren on Tuesday addressed a massive public rally in Biswanath district of Assam, seeking to mobilise tea tribe and Adivasi communities while raising the slogan “Abua Dishum, Abua Raj” (Our Land, Our Rule) and calling for stronger tribal rights and political representation ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
Soren, who also heads the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), addressed thousands of tea garden workers and indigenous community members at Mejikajan Tea Estate, where the rally was organised jointly by JMM and the Jai Bharat Party (JBP).
During his speech, Soren highlighted the hardships faced by tea garden workers, pointing to issues such as low wages, limited access to education and inadequate healthcare facilities.
“For decades, you have worked under the sun while your rights remain unfulfilled,” Soren said, accusing successive governments of failing to address the concerns of tea tribe communities.
He also criticised the state government for not granting Scheduled Tribe status to tea tribe communities, a long-standing demand raised by several organisations.
“If those in power continue to ignore these voices, remember that the Adivasis of Jharkhand stand with their brothers and sisters in Assam,” he said.
Emphasising the idea of “Abua Raj”, Soren described it as a vision of self-governance where indigenous communities would have a decisive role in shaping their future.
“In Jharkhand, we fought for our rights through democratic struggle. Now the people here must unite and claim their rightful place in governance,” he added.
The rally witnessed the presence of several leaders, including JBP president Teharu Gour, JMM MP Vijay Hansda, Jharkhand minister Chamra Linda and representatives of the All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam.
The event began with traditional Bihu performances and Adivasi folk songs, reflecting the cultural diversity of the region.
Speaking at the rally, Gour announced plans for a political alliance between the Jai Bharat Party and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.
“If JMM supports us fully, we are confident of winning these seats,” Gour said, adding that the alliance plans to contest around 40 of the 126 Assembly constituencies.
He also criticised the state government over recurring floods in the state, saying, “Floods continue to affect the lives of people every year. The government has not taken sufficient steps to resolve the problem.”
Soren’s visit to Assam is part of a two-day tour aimed at expanding JMM’s political presence in the Northeast. After the rally, he travelled to Sonitpur district to attend an iftar gathering, marking the next leg of his visit.
