Raju Bista Meets Gorkha Welfare Body and BJP Workers, Emphasises Community Service, Reviews SIR Desks, and Criticises GTA

KalimNews, November 24, 2025, Kalimpong: Darjeeling MP Raju Bista undertook a series of engagements in Kalimpong on Monday, focusing on community welfare, development initiatives and organisational activities of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His visit included interactions with a key Gorkha welfare organisation, meetings with party workers, and an inspection of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Help Desk in the town.

Bista first met the executive members of the Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sammelan (GDNS) at the GDNS Kalimpong Bhawan, an institution actively working for the welfare of local communities and the preservation of the Gorkha language, culture and heritage. Earlier, he had sanctioned ₹25 lakh for the development of the GDNS Bhawan. During the meeting, the GDNS team briefed him in detail on renovation works completed using the sanctioned funds.

Later, he attended the BJP Kalimpong Vidhan Sabha Assembly Organisation meeting, which saw the presence of local office-bearers, Mandal Presidents, Shaktikendra Pramukhs and elected Panchayat members. The discussions focused on organisational strengthening, ongoing public outreach programmes and strategies for improving grassroots-level connections. Special emphasis was placed on enhancing the SIR process and the functioning of BJP Help Desks established across every Mandal and Gram Panchayat to assist citizens seeking guidance.

As part of his visit, Bista also inspected the SIR Help Desk at the Desh Bandhu Chest Clinic Compound in Ward No. 10, Kalimpong town, where he interacted with volunteers and residents. He stressed the significance of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll, calling it an essential democratic exercise. He noted that the BJP had set up multiple SIR Help Desks across the Darjeeling Hills, the Terai, the Dooars and West Bengal to support individuals needing assistance with form-filling or clarifying doubts. While acknowledging that the SIR is conducted by the Election Commission of India, he urged all political parties to rise above partisan considerations and help citizens navigate the process.

Bista expressed confidence that the people of the Darjeeling Hills, the Terai and the Dooars would continue to support what he described as the inclusive and development-oriented leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also reiterated that the public would stand firmly against what he alleged were discriminatory policies of the Trinamool Congress.

During a press meet held at an event in Kalimpong, Bista made strong remarks against the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). He alleged that the GTA was involved in “commission-taking” in various activities and misleading the public. According to him, ceremonial foundation-laying events—such as those performed with coconuts—and other display-oriented programmes were “strategies to deceive the people”.

He stated that if the GTA claimed certain works were carried out by the state government, they should produce evidence. “If the state government has indeed done the work, they should show it,” he said, describing such claims as examples of false publicity. With elections approaching, Bista also remarked that certain leaders appeared unnecessarily overenthusiastic, adding that such enthusiasm was unlikely to last more than six months.