Montek to push for declaring tea as India's national drink | India Gazette

Montek to push for declaring tea as India's national drink

India Gazette (IANS) Saturday 21st April, 2012

Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia Saturday assured the tea planters in Assam that he will take up the issue of declaring tea as India's national drink with the union ministry of commerce and industry.

Ahluwalia gave the assurance while attending the 75th anniversary celebration of the Assam Tea Planters' Association (ATPA), the first tea producers' association formed by Indian tea planters during the pre-independence period.

"I have seen the proposal presented to the government of India for declaring tea as the country's national drink. I'll definitely take up the matter with union Minister for Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma," Ahluwalia said while speaking at the celebrations, held in Upper Assam's Jorhat town.

The Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission also asked the ATPA to incorporate in the proposal the fact that tea is a commodity in India dating back to the pre-independence period of the country and that there is a sentiment and history attached with tea.

Ahluwalia also referred to Maniram Dewan, the first Assamese tea planter, who is also associated with the country's freedom struggle and said that inclusion of these histories in the proposal for declaring tea as the country's national drink will make the case stronger.

Page 1 of 3 | Next