Bengal BJP Blames Mamata for Tea Woes, Sidesteps Modi Govt's Role (Image of Sukanta Majumdar addressing a crowd of tea workers)
Protests Erupt in Dooars as Majumdar Targets Health, Closed Gardens, But Dodges Central Role
Sukanta Majumdar, the head of the Bengal BJP, criticised Mamata Banerjee's administration on Thursday, saying it has not improved health facilities in the north Bengal tea region or reopened shuttered tea plantations.
Majumdar, however, sidestepped a direct question on what the Narendra Modi administration at the federal level had accomplished for the region's tea people and instead placed the blame on the state.
Upon arriving at Alipurduar on Thursday, Majumdar declared: "There are nearly ten closed gardens here." The Dooars' economy has been severely impacted by these closures. The fact that an ambulance was not accessible when a tea garden worker in Alipurduar passed away lately is evidence of the disarray surrounding the health services in the tea belt. This state government hasn't done anything for tea workers throughout the years.
At a protest on concerns pertaining to tea workers, the state president of the BJP was joined by John Barla, the Union minister of state for minority affairs and the local MP. When the demonstration arrived to the district collectorate in Dooars Kanya, there was a significant police presence.
For thirty minutes, BJP supporters attempted but were unable to breach bamboo barriers. According to reports, police later organized for a delegation to visit the district magistrate's office, after which they turned in a seven-point memorandum addressed to the DM.
Those who participated in the demonstration yelled demands that the shuttered tea gardens be opened right now.
Majumdar's comments during the gathering suggested that the BJP was attempting to court the tea community once again in an effort to hold onto the Alipurduar parliamentary seat. The tea population of Alipurduar determines the outcome of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
However, Majumdar chose not to immediately respond when questioned about the Center's contribution to enhancing the tea industry—a query that the governing party in Bengal has often posed.
"The state labor agency is in charge of reopening the shuttered tea estates. The state police don't take any action despite complaints from the provident fund authorities against a number of tea gardens for failing to deposit the workers' PF, according to Majumdar.
Leaders of the Trinamul district called it a "charade."
Tea workers and their families were aware of the benefits provided by the Trinamul-led state government, including social welfare programs and land rights, according to Prakash Chik Baraik, a district representative in the Rajya Sabha.
"BJP politicians, on the other hand, just made meaningless promises to the people living in the tea belt. In order to get votes, the state head of the BJP staged a hoax. These tactics won't be effective this time, Baraik said.
