Congress Leader Dr. Munish Tamang Engages in Public Campaign "Jan Sampark Abhuyan" Across Darjeeling, Meets with Adivasi Gorkha Delegation

Kalim News, July 7, 2025, Kalimpong: Congress leader Dr. Munish Tamang, who contested in the 2024 Parliamentary elections for the Darjeeling constituency seat, embarked on a public outreach campaign "Jan Sampark Abhiyan across the Darjeeling hills and plains, meeting the people of Bagrakote, Gorubathan, Naxalbari, and Mirik. 

Dr. Tamang, who has a long history of involvement with the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, entered politics just before the 2024 election. Although his electoral performance did not meet expectations, he remains an active leader in the socio-political landscape of the region. Dr. Tamang is currently the President of the National Federation for New States and continues to work on issues affecting the Gorkha community.

During his visit, Dr. Tamang aimed to understand the daily struggles and aspirations of the people living in the hills, Terai, and Dooars regions. As he engaged with the local populace, he emphasized his desire to connect with them as a fellow citizen, rather than merely as a political party member. Through his interactions, he underscored the importance of firsthand knowledge of the people's conditions, a crucial factor in finding practical solutions to their issues.

Dr. Tamang also took the opportunity to criticize the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for failing to meet its promises to the Gorkha community. He highlighted the significant role played by the Congress Party in forming the Darjeeling Gorkha Parvatiya Parishad (Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council) in 1988 and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) in 2011, initiatives that continue to shape the region's political landscape. He reaffirmed the Congress Party's commitment to finding a permanent political solution for the region's long-standing issues and reiterated the party's unwavering support for the Gorkhas of Darjeeling.

As part of his outreach, Dr. Tamang met with a delegation from the Adivasi Gorkha Sanyukta Samiti (AGOSS), led by President Saghan Moktan, at Meena More in Jalpaiguri District. The delegation submitted a memorandum addressed to the Indian National Congress leadership, requesting that the community be adequately represented in the upcoming 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Specifically, the community demanded that Gorkha candidates from the regions of Mal, Kalchini, and Madarihat be fielded in the elections.

Dr. Tamang assured the delegation that he would bring their concerns to the leadership of the Congress Party. He expressed his support for the community’s demand, emphasizing that the Gorkha people of the region must have adequate political representation to address their needs and concerns.

In addition to his political outreach, Dr. Tamang also visited the gate meetings of Bagrakote tea garden in the Dooars region, where he joined workers in a demonstration highlighting their grievances. The tea garden workers have been facing severe financial difficulties, with many of them having gone without pay for over two and a half months. Moreover, a government notification regarding land surveys has further exacerbated their concerns, as the workers are now being labeled as “landless laborers.”

This notification has caused significant unrest among the workers, who have lived on the tea gardens for generations. The workers’ unions, including the Congress-backed trade union, NUPW, have strongly opposed the designation of workers as landless, arguing that they have played an integral role in developing and maintaining the land. The unions have also called for an immediate resolution to the workers’ wage arrears and demanded that land titles be granted to those who have lived and worked on the land for years.

At the protest, Dr. Tamang stood in solidarity with the workers, condemning the exploitation they face. He criticized the government for not fulfilling its promises and highlighted the unjust treatment of tea garden workers. He also voiced his opposition to the recent land survey notification, stating that the workers are not landless. "We are not landless. Our workers have made the land what it is today. We will oppose this classification," Dr. Tamang asserted.

Pawan Pradhan, Secretary of the Tea Garden Workers’ Union (CITU-Mal Region), also spoke at the protest, emphasizing that workers have not received their salaries since January. He expressed frustration that the management has failed to take responsibility for the delay, and called for a unified movement by all trade unions in Bagrakote to address these issues. Pradhan also criticized the land survey notification, urging the government to recognize the workers' contributions and grant land rights to those who have worked the land for decades. He warned that if the workers’ issues are not addressed within the next two to three days, they would escalate their protests.

Dr. Tamang and the union leaders continue to demand that the West Bengal government intervene in the matter to ensure that the workers' rights are upheld, both in terms of wages and land rights. The protest, which included a gate meeting at the tea garden, is part of a larger effort to bring attention to the workers' plight and secure their future.

Dr. Tamang's visit to the tea gardens and his engagement with both the Adivasi Gorkha Sanyukta Samiti and tea garden workers reflects his growing influence in the region. By addressing both the political and economic concerns of the Gorkha and tea garden communities, he aims to strengthen the relationship between the people of Darjeeling and the Congress Party, ensuring that the needs of the community are given the attention they deserve.

As the region continues to face significant challenges, both politically and economically, Dr. Tamang’s efforts to connect with the grassroots of Darjeeling and raise their issues at higher political forums could be pivotal in shaping the future of the Gorkha community in West Bengal.