Darjeeling, 29th July: During a discussion on the Union Budget, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista addressed the Parliament to highlight the various positives of the budget, criticize the discriminatory policies of the TMC-led West Bengal government towards the North Bengal region, and request funding for several developmental priorities.
Bista began his speech by expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for introducing a budget that is holistic and prioritizes youths, skilling, employment generation, modernizing agriculture, infrastructure, urban development, rural development, innovation, manufacturing, and women-led development. He informed the Parliament about the various allocations made in the budget, including Rs 1000 crore sanctioned for the welfare of tea garden workers.
Criticizing the ruling party in the state, Bista informed the Parliament that West Bengal has deteriorated under TMC governance, likening the party to the East India Company. He accused the TMC of widespread corruption in schemes like MGNREGA, Swachh Bharat, PMGSY, PMAY, RIDF, PDS Ration, BADP, Jal Jeevan Mission, AMRUT, Education, and Municipality recruitment. Bista highlighted the reduction in MGNREGA job cards from 3.88 crore before Aadhaar linking to 2.56 crore after the linking, exposing what he described as the TMC’s daylight robbery of public resources.
Bista also highlighted demographic changes in the region, with Rohingyas and illegal Bangladeshis establishing themselves. He requested the Central Government to protect the region from further incursions and to fulfill the aspirations of the local people by ensuring a Permanent Political Solution under the Constitution of India. He also called for the re-inclusion of 11 Gorkha sub-tribes as Scheduled Tribes.
Further, Bista requested a special financial package for the rehabilitation of Teesta flood and landslide victims, the establishment of a Central University in Darjeeling, and an AIIMS in North Bengal. He also advocated for increased salaries for ICDS and Anganwadi workers, financial support for the tea industry, and direct benefit transfers of welfare funds for tea garden workers.
Bista’s requests included finances for an International Level Stadium in Siliguri, a national-level Food Processing Center focusing on pineapple in Phansidewa-Kharibari region, and additional grants for the upgrading of NH-10, an alternative highway to Darjeeling, and the Siliguri Ring Road projects. He also called for Central Government intervention to ensure the implementation of the Forest Rights Act for forest villagers and the early implementation of the New Labour Codes to guarantee dignified wages and higher living standards for tea and cinchona garden workers.