04/02/2023
Office of Raju Bista
Press Release
4th of Feb, 2023
BJP Darjeeling welcomes and appreciates the first budget of "Amrti Kaal' which empowers women, ensures social security for elderly and senior citizens, provides skills, learning and employment creating opportunities for the youths, and will help India become the world leader in green energy and green technology. We welcome the huge relief given to the middle-class and salaried-class, with individuals up to Rs 7 Lakh income not having to pay any taxes. We applaud the Central Govt decision to undertake development of tourism infrastructure and amenities in border villages through the 'Vibrant Villages' Programme. Further, we are hopeful that our Darjeeling-Kalimpong-Siliguri-Terai region will feature in the 50 tourist destinations that will be developed as a complete package for domestic and foreign tourists by the Central Government. We welcome the increase in PMAY budget to Rs 76000 crores to ensure house for all by the Central Government. It underlines our central tenant of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikash'.
BJP Darjeeling expresses our deep concern at the rampant corruption in the utilisation of funds provided by the Central Government towards the development of our region and welfare of the citizens. We register our strongest protest against those who have looted public resources, and avow to use the legal system to ensure that all those corrupt are put behind bars.
BJP Darjeeling also strongly and unequivocally protests against the unfortunate assertion made in the recent Supreme Court order, which labels the 80% of the Sikkimese population as “persons of foreign origin settled in Sikkim, like the Nepalis”. Such statements put to question the citizenship of all Gorkhas spread across India. The 1.5 crore Gorkha citizens of India are indigenous to our nation, and no one has the right to label us as being of “foreign origin,” we came with the land.
BJP Darjeeling supports 3-tier Panchayat elections in our region. We oppose the WB Government subverting Panchayat system by calling for only 2-tier elections. BJP will contest the Panchayat elections in collaboration with our alliance partners and those who share our vision for a better Darjeeling. We are fearful that the Panchayat elections cannot be held fairly under WB Police, hence we demand that Central Forces be deployed to ensure free and fair Panchayat elections.
BJP Darjeeling supports the Parja Patta land rights for the Tea Garden Workers, Cinchona Garden Workers, and Forest Villagers. We demand immediate implementation of the New Labour Codes to ensure higher wages and better standard of living for the workers. BJP supports the inclusion of the Tea Garden workers under the Minimum Wages Act.
BJP Darjeeling reasserts our commitment to the people of the region, as reflected in our National Sankalp Patra and WB State Sankalp Patra, where in our party has committed to two major issues i) Permanent Political Solution for Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars, and ii) Re-inclusion of 11 left-out Gorkha sub-tribes as Scheduled Tribes.
The meeting was graciously attended by Darjeeling District President Dr. Kalyan Dewan ji, BJP WB In-charge & former Cabinet Minister of Bihar Sh. Mangal Pandey ji, BJP North Bengal Prabhari Sh. Sanjay Singh ji, and other District and Mandal leaders and karyakartas.
*Raju Bista*
*Member of Parliament, Darjeeling and*
*National Spokesperson, BJP*