West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Denies Support to Tea Garden Workers’ Strike in Darjeeling
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has refused to support a 12-hour strike by trade unions demanding a 20% bonus for tea garden workers in Darjeeling. She stated that the issue is being discussed with the Labour Commission and she cannot interfere.
Darjeeling MP and BJP spokesperson Raju Bista criticized her stance, urging her to intervene. He stated, “It is extremely unfortunate that the Chief Minister of the State, Mamata Banerjee ji, who is currently in North Bengal has refused to intervene in favour of the tea garden workers.”
Trade unions representing Darjeeling tea garden workers called for the strike, stating that the issue has been ongoing and remains unresolved despite multiple meetings. Suman Tamang, a trade union leader, said, “This issue is not new; it is very old. Yesterday the fourth round of meetings was held in Shramik Bhavan but no solution came out of the meeting.”
In March, tea growers also expressed their disappointment with the role of the central government in addressing their issues, stating that Darjeeling tea is facing a crisis.
Doubts Revealed
West Bengal -: West Bengal is a state in eastern India. It is known for its rich culture, history, and beautiful landscapes.
CM -: CM stands for Chief Minister. The Chief Minister is the head of the government in an Indian state.
Mamata Banerjee -: Mamata Banerjee is the Chief Minister of West Bengal. She is a politician and the leader of the Trinamool Congress party.
Tea Garden Workers -: Tea garden workers are people who work in tea plantations, where tea leaves are grown and harvested.
Strike -: A strike is when workers stop working to protest for better conditions, pay, or other demands.
Darjeeling -: Darjeeling is a town in West Bengal, famous for its tea gardens and beautiful mountain views.
Trade Unions -: Trade unions are groups of workers who come together to protect their rights and improve their working conditions.
20% bonus -: A 20% bonus means extra money that is 20% of the workers’ regular pay, given as a reward or incentive.
Labour Commission -: The Labour Commission is a government body that deals with issues related to workers and their rights.
MP -: MP stands for Member of Parliament. An MP is a person elected to represent people in the Parliament, which makes laws for the country.
Raju Bista -: Raju Bista is a Member of Parliament from Darjeeling. He represents the people of Darjeeling in the Indian Parliament.