‘Refugee patta’ unacceptable for hill people, says Raju Bista

The issue of “parja patta” is the second most important demand after Gorkhaland

EOI, DARJEELING, FEBRUARY 18, 2023 :  Darjeeling MP Raju Singh Bista on Saturday said the BJP would not allow political leaders to use the issue of land rights to fool the people.

Bista was speaking to newspersons while on a visit to Mahakal Mandir in Darjeeling on the occasion of Shivratri. 

He said: “The issue of “parja patta” is the second most important demand after Gorkhaland. We welcome whatever assurances have been given on the issue but if the GTA is fooling the people in its name we will not allow that.`

`Gorkhaland Territorial Administration chief executive Anit Thapa has been maintaining that “parja-patta” will be handed over soon to people living in teagarden areas. 

A team from Kolkata has started conducting survey in some tea gardens. 

“It is being said that only five decimals of land will be given in place of the acres of ancestral land they have. This is a conspiracy of the GTA and the Trinamool Congress but they will not be successful in that. There is information that they will be given that amount of land as ‘refugee patta,’ like beggars, which they do not want. I will protest if it happens.  

The people cannot be removed from their land forcefully as the BJP is standing with them,

”Bista said, adding that they should have rights to sell the land later or even take out loans against the land. 

The Darjeeling MP also stressed on the need of a three-tier panchayat elections in the hills instead of a two-tier one, while also maintaining that even if a two-tier poll is held the BJP would contest.

“If the entire West Bengal is having a three-tier panchayat election, then why should this place have a two-tier panchayat election? Panchayat is a state subject and they must take the decision. The Centre is also pushing the matter,” said Bista.

“If the GTA and Trinamool are, however, thinking that we will not participate in a two-tire panchayat election, then they should not remain in that misconception. We will contest it and the BJP will emerge victorious. For the panchayat central funds will come, and we will bypass the state government and directly carry our development activities,” he added