Gangtok: Darjeeling MP and BJP National Spokesperson Raju Bista has sharply criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the state government’s recent decision to allow 30 per cent of tea garden lands to be repurposed for non-tea purposes.
Bista questioned the legitimacy of this move, saying, “Mamata Banerjee is not the owner of our land. She needs to study the history of our land. She has no right to transfer our land to others arbitrarily. How can she give land to others, while keeping the tea garden workers deprived?”
On February 14, Bista met with West Bengal Governor Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose to raise concerns about the potential impacts of this policy on indigenous communities in the Darjeeling Hills, Terai, and Dooars regions. He warned that the decision could undermine cultural heritage, livelihoods, and ancestral land rights. “The diversion of tea garden land poses a serious risk of displacement for our people, endangering their traditional way of life,” Bista added.
In the meeting, Bista also brought up the inadequate response to the recent Teesta River floods. He urged for better and more comprehensive support for the victims, stressing that the relief efforts were not sufficient to address the scale of the disaster.
Governor Bose assured Bista that the issues would be reviewed thoroughly, and the concerns of the affected communities would be considered. Bista reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of his constituents in Darjeeling.
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