13/04/2021
*Press Release From Office of MP Raju Bista*
*13th of April, 2021*
Today, I joined our MLA candidates Neeraj Zimba ji from Darjeeling, BP Bajgain ji from Kurseong, GNLF Chief Mann Ghising ji, CPRM Chief RB Rai sir and the people of our region in welcoming Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri. Amit Shah ji to our beautiful Darjeeling hills.
Amit Shah ji began his speech by celebrating our hills and said that Darjeeling was the 1st place in Asia to get electricity connection in 1897, the second place in Bengal to get a municipality in 1850 and the 1st Industrial area in India in the form of Tea estates. He paid homage to Gorkha great Freedom Fighters Dal Bahadur Giri ji, Helen Lepcha ji, Gaga Tshering Dukpa ji, Pushpa Kumar Ghising ji and others. He acknowledged legendary mountaineer Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and our literary icon, Dr. Indra Bahadur Rai sir as the pride of our nation and stated that despite being a small place our region has contributed immensely towards our nation building. Amit Shah Ji also highlighted the need to integrate our region and Gorkhas with the national mainstream. He acknowledged that the Gorkhas are at the forefront when it comes to sacrificing for the nation.
Highlighting the atrocities faced by our people under TMC and the killing of 11 Gorkha youths in 2017, Amit Shah ji stated that our government will constitute a Special Investigations Team (SIT) and ensure that all who suffered TMC atrocities and their families will get justice.
The people from Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars have supported BJP since a time when BJP had a very little support in West Bengal. The special relationship that people from our region share with BJP was acknowledged by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi ji and again today Amit Shah ji reiterated this special relationship and stated that the people from our region are looking at a bright and secure future under the BJP Government.
Reiterating our party’s commitment to finding a Permanent Political Solution to the long pending demands of the people from Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars region and inclusion of 11 left-out Gorkha sub-tribes as ST, he asked people to vote in BJP government in the state, so that these processes can speeded up. He also stated that once our government is formed, we will dissolve GTA.
Speaking about the deprivation faced by our people, he reiterated our party’s commitment to grant Parja Patta rights to Tea Garden and Cinchona Garden workers, and those living in Forest Villages and DI Fund lands. He also emphasized that our government will increase the wages of tea garden workers to Rs 350 per day.
Sharing BJP vision for Cinchona Plantations, Amit Shah ji said that our government will revive Cinchona gardens and develop them into a medicinal plant hub. He also shared our commitment to implement Forest Rights Act in the region and abolish the exploitative DI Fund land system.
He highlighted how grassroots democracy has been murdered in Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong hills and stated our party’s commitment to conducting Panchayat Elections in the region. He also stated that all instances of Ghotala of public funds – PMGSY, MGNREGA, PMAY, RIDF and all other government schemes will be investigated and those involved brought to justice.
He shared our Party’s commitment to upgrade Darjeeling Municipality to Darjeeling Municipal Corporation. Emphasizing on the need for providing clean and adequate drinking water for all, he stated that our government will ensure piped water connection to every household under the 'Har Ghar Jal' Scheme by 2024.
Speaking on Tourism Development, Amit Shah ji stated that our Government will provide a special package of Rs 1000 crore towards tourism development in the North Bengal region and spoke about strengthening cultural integration of the people through tourism. He also spoke about providing subsidized loan upto Rs 50 lakhs for tourism entreprenures and making the earning 100% tax free for the next three years.
He spoke about developing our region as an Education Hub and establishing a Central University in North Bengal on a priority basis. Amit Shah Ji also highlighted the corruption in teacher’s recruitment and stated that a Special Investigation Team will be formed to investigate the matter.
Speaking on NRC, Amit Shah ji made it categorically clear that Gorkhas cannot be illegal infiltrators, as they are the sons and daughters of the soil. He further reiterated that Gorkhas have as much right to India as the Gorkhas of India. He stated that no decision had been taken on the implementation of NRC, but assured that as and when NRC is implemented, not a single Gorkha will be negatively affected. He once again reiterated BJP commitment to protect and promote local languages and start a TV and Radio Channel in Nepali language.
I join him in requesting our people to vote for our BJP candidates - Suva Pradhan ji from Kalimpong, Neeraj Zimba ji from Darjeeling and BP Bajgain ji from Kurseong, and give our party an opportunity to implement the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji to transform our region; and help usher in good governance to ensure a clean, honest and transparent government.
*Raju Bista*
*Member of Parliament, Darjeeling and*
*National Spokesperson, BJP*
