Darjeeling BJP MP Raju Bista heckled by 'BGPM' for job funds freeze

 Heckling comes some weeks after Bista admits that he is responsible for stopping 100 days’ work fund to hills

Alleged BGPM supporters demonstrate in front of Darjeeling MP Raju Bista's convoy in Pokhriabong on Friday.: Telegraph picture

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, 01.07.23 : Darjeeling BJP MP Raju Bista was heckled on Friday allegedly by workers of Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) over the Centre freezing funds for the 100 days’ work scheme.

With this, the hill party has raked up an issue on which Darjeeling was relatively quiet so far.

Sources claimed that BGPM supporters raised slogans when Bista was visiting Pokhriabong, about 30km from Darjeeling around 3.30pm on Friday. “Our 100 days’ payment is pending,” the protesters were heard shouting and sloganeering in favour of BGPM president Anit Thapa.

The heckling comes some weeks after Bista had admitted that he was responsible for stopping the 100 days’ work fund to the hills.

Later in the day, Bista filed a general diary at Nagri police outpost naming BGPM leaders for “attacking my vehicle with the intention of physically harming me (Indian Penal Code sections 307, 332 and 353)”.

The MP alleged that the BGPM “goons” had also breached the model code of conduct and “prevented a public servant from discharging duty towards the people of the constituency”.

“The goons were carrying sharp weapons and some may even have been carrying firearms,” said Bista in the police complaint, adding the “attack was well thought out to physically harm me”.

Friday’s protest has spotlighted the non-payment of 100 days’ wages in the hills. The issue so far had been on the back burner in the region.

Bista, however, alleged that in Darjeeling and Kalimpong, there was “corruption” to the tune of Rs 318 crore in the hills related to the 100 days’ work scheme and hence the payment had been frozen not just in the hills but across Bengal.

BGPM leaders had not reacted to charges of heckling until this report was filed.

Courtesy & source- The Telegraph