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.