Dhekiajuli (Assam): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday claimed an international conspiracy has been hatched to "defame" Indian tea, on a visit to Assam, a major producer of the brew.

On a second visit to the election-bound state in a fortnight, Modi also pitched for setting up at least one medical college and a technical institution in each state that will impart education in the native language.

He was addressing a gathering, Modi said he always linked the condition of tea garden workers to the development of Assam.

"But documents have emerged to show that a conspiracy has been hatched outside the country to defame Indian tea. I am sure the tea workers from Assam will give a befitting reply.

"No tea garden worker in Assam can tolerate this attack and I am sure they will win this fight against these conspirators as they are stronger than these forces with vested interest," he said.

The prime minister was apparently referring to NGO Greenpeace's report about alleged overuse of pesticides in Indian tea industry.

He said the Centre had earmarked Rs 1,000 crore for the tea sector in the budget and an assistance of Rs 3,000 was extended to each tea garden worker of Assam on Saturday.

Mobile medical units were also functioning in tea gardens, he said.

Modi also spoke about his dream of imparting medical and technical education in mother tongue. He claimed Assam has witnessed unprecedented development in the last five years with increased health and infrastructure development.

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