Tamang stir bolsters party and ally TMC 12 Oct 2019 News Image View Print Mail [Close Button] A A A

AVIJIT SINHA, TT, 12 October 2019, Siliguri: Darjeeling on Friday witnessed a subtle shift in political dynamics as the hills reverberated with slogans of "Binay Tamang Zindabad" while protests against Raju Bista, the local BJP MP, broke out for possibly the first time.

Tamang, who had launched an indefinite fast-untodeath demanding bonus at the rate of 20 per cent for tea workers of the hills, basked in the spotlight after many months as the tea population and people in general lauded his nonviolent agitation for the bonus.

"During past few years, the hills have witnessed a number of movements on several issues. But hardly any political leader has come forward and taken such a stride. Through his fast, Binay Tamang has proved his sincerity for the tea workers and their families is far more than any other leader of any party," said an elated supporter of Tamang, as the leader withdrew his fast in the afternoon after the tripartite agreement on bonus was signed in Calcutta.

During past few months, particularly after his faction of the Morcha and ally Trinamul faced dual defeats at the Lok Sabha and at the Assembly bypoll of Darjeeling, there had been a slackening of political activities by both parties.

However, this one move has helped Tamang to revive his support and has also bolstered the confidence of his supporters, opined veterans of hill politics.

"He made a simple but significant move which eventual- ly worked as a multipronged strategy. On one hand, it would help his party and his trade union to penetrate the tea belt, while on another hand he could prove that despite being Trinamul's ally, his party has its own separate identity and decision. Further, he could pose a challenge for his political contenders, particularly the GNLF and the BJP," said an observer.

On Friday, Tamang's supporters assembled at motor stand where he had been continuing his fast. They burnt an effigy of MP Bista while shouting slogans against him.

Such developments made the MP to react, who issued a press release and congratulated the workers for achieving bonus at their desired rate. Bista however, was critical of the state and said that if it would have been more proactive, the tea workers would not have faced inconvenience during the festival season.

"Instead of protesting against the Trinamul government that has deprived our workers, they protested against my offer of resolving the issue within 24 hours. Instead of speaking out against the exploitation of tea garden workers, they indulged in politics and staged a fake outrage by burning my effigy," the MP said in the release.

The Bimal Gurung faction of Morcha also issued a statement. "That the GTA cannot meet aspirations of the hill people is evident from the fact that Binay Tamang himself was forced to sit on the indefinite hunger strike," the statement said..