GANGTOK,: Darjeeling BJP MP Raju Bista, who is
seeking a re-election, addressed a crowd of supporters at Sukhia Pokhari in
Darjeeling today.
In his address, Bista highlighted the
challenges faced by the region under the TMC government, accusing it of
perpetuating uncertainty through temporary measures.
“TMC is keeping everything ‘temporary’
under the guise of ‘voluntarism’. From government employees to teachers and
civic volunteers, even the governing structure GTA itself has been deliberately
kept temporary by Kolkata,” said Bista. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi ji, we are committed to dismantle this culture of impermanence
and ushering in stability through the Permanent Political Solution (PPS) under
the Constitution of India.”
Bista criticized the TMC for neglecting
the rights of tea garden and cinchona workers, alleging deliberate deprivation
of land rights and low wages, which he believes are driving youths away while
opening the floodgates for the settlement of Rohingyas and illegal
infiltrators.
In contrast, Bista outlined the BJP’s
plans to implement four new labour laws aimed at ensuring fair wages, better
living standards and improved social security for workers in the tea and
cinchona gardens. He added that the BJP
will also ensure Parja Patta rights to all the ancestral lands for the tea
garden, cinchona garden, forest village and DI Fund land residents.
Bista also unveiled plans to boost
agricultural activities in the region including the establishment of a
cold-chain network to address challenges related to perishable produce. He
proposed the formation of Farmers' Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Farmer's
Cooperatives to streamline the marketing of agricultural products.
Furthermore, Bista expressed commitment
to promoting rural tourism and homestays, leveraging the region’s natural
beauty. He emphasized the importance of empowering youth through training and
capacity-building initiatives to capitalize on economic opportunities arising
from these ventures.
