Siliguri, 16th February: Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) organised a rally and staged an agitation in Siliguri protesting against unemployment allowance and demanding job opportunities. Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, Siliguri MLA Shankar Ghosh and other party leaders were present at the programme.
The rally culminated at Hashmi Chowk where protesters demonstrated and set up a temporary tent to gather public opinion on unemployment allowance and employment issues. Residents shared their views through ballot papers, and the MP also cast his opinion in the ballot box.
Later, party workers and supporters marched towards the Siliguri Municipal Corporation. Tension prevailed in the area as protesters were stopped before reaching the main gate, and a scuffle reportedly broke out between police personnel and demonstrators.
The BJP alleged that instead of creating genuine employment opportunities, the state government is misleading the youth through unemployment allowance schemes. The party further claimed a lack of transparency in industrial development and recruitment processes, demanding permanent job creation and an end to alleged recruitment irregularities.
The ruling party, however, stated that the unemployment allowance scheme was introduced to provide financial assistance to youths and accused the opposition of politicising the matter.