GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, February 24, drew a heartfelt connection between Assam’s tea industry and his own early years as a chai wala, as he addressed a packed audience at the Jhumur Binandini (a dance of the tea tribe community) event in Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati.
ALSO READ: Assam Unveils Aerospace And Defence Manufacturing Policy 2025, A Strategic Vision With Challenges Ahead
Modi addressed the people of Assam, before over 8,000 dancers performed the Jhumoir folk dance. "I can smell the aroma of Assam’s tea gardens here,” the prime minister said at the event, referring to the state’s 200-year-old industry. “And who will know the smell and colour of tea better than a chai wala?"
He also recalled his 2023 visit to Assam as a highlight, when 11,000 dancers set a Guinness World Record for the largest Bihu performance, and expressed his excitement for yet another cultural showcase.
Modi additionally highlighted Assam’s growing global presence, noting that envoys from over 60 nations were present at the event. "There was a time when no expectations were made of Assam and the Northeast in terms of development,” he stated. “Look at how the times have changed! The region will reach new heights in the upcoming years."
Earlier in the day, Modi was received by Assam Governor Lakshmi Prasad Acharya and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at Borjhar Airport. He will also inaugurate the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit on February 25 which aims to boost investment and economic development in the state.