Tinsukia: Proscribed ULFA-I on Thursday issued a warning to Amalgamated Plantations Pvt Ltd (APPL), the second largest tea producer in the country, to shift all its offices to Assam and hire indigenous youths of the state, failing which the outfit will take action “to prevent it from doing business in Assam”.
The development comes on the backdrop of New Delhi-headquartered Quippo Oil and Gas Infrastructure Limited agreeing to create 5,000 jobs for Assamese youths to secure the release of their two employees — Pranab Kumar Gogoi and Ram Kumar — who were released within the last three days.
In a statement signed by the member of publicity department of the outfit, Rumel Asom, the ULFA-I said that the company’s head office is outside the state of Assam where no “indegineous” people from Assam were recruited, despite the fact that the company was doing business in Assam and making profit. “It is unfortunate that you have not taken your responsibility with the importance it deserves,” it added.
“We are aware that you are recruiting your workers from outside Assam instead of the unemployed indegineous youths in Assam. This is contrary to the spirit of a ‘win-win’ relationship between a corporate and the locals,” the statement said.
The statement further read: “We are giving notice with this statement that, with immediately effect you relocate all your administrative offices to Assam and you will recruit only indigenous people of Assam (Thologiri) workers in various positions that open up in your company from now on.”
“If you fail to comply with our just demand promptly, we shall take action to prevent your company from doing business in Assam,” the statement said, adding that no one connected with the company would be allowed to travel in the state in their business interest. “We trust that no one in your organization will take it as an empty threat and ignore this notice,” it further said.
The APPL, set up in 2007, with the Tatas having the maximum share, has its operation spread across 25 tea estates in Assam and West Bengal.
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