West Bengal Government Announces Withdrawal of Cases Against Kurmi Agitators and Pledges Cultural Protection

PTI, Purulia, September 20, 2026: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday announced that all cases registered against members, leaders, and supporters of the tribal Kurmi community in connection with their agitations during the previous TMC government would be withdrawn, and assured the community of recognition and protection of its language, culture, heritage, and rights.

Addressing a Kurmi community programme at 'Karm Parbatia Mahajaruya' in Chakaltore gram panchayat area of Purulia-I block here, Adhikari said the previous government did nothing for the Kurmis other than creating divisions within the community, failed to fulfil its promises, and instead used police against people during agitations.

"The previous government did not fulfil any of its promises. They kept lying to the people here and tried to create division among the community members to isolate them from the rest of the country. The police were used during the agitation. False cases were filed. Even children and the elderly were not spared," Adhikari said.

Kurmis had, during the Trinamool Congress rule, staged road and railway blockades in the state's western districts seeking Scheduled Tribe status and inclusion of their Kurmali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, among other demands. "All the cases imposed on the Kurmi people during their agitation will be withdrawn. This is my assurance to you," he said.

The announcement comes a year after Kurmi activists staged a rail blockade in the state on September 20, 2025, demanding, among other things, Scheduled Tribe status and inclusion of the Kurmali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

Police had registered three cases in connection with the rail blockade, in which 51 people were arrested. Purulia district police arrested 29 people, while the Railway Protection Force arrested 22.

Adhikari also reiterated his commitment to the community's language, culture, heritage, and rights.

"You had demanded recognition of the Kurmali language. Our leader, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, gave you assurance to fulfil that and mentioned that in Sankalpa Patra," he said.

"Recently, after I became the CM, your leaders met Shah and the process (of recognising Kurmali and Rajbangshi languages) will soon commence and will be completed in quick time," Adhikari said.

Kurmali language is spoken by the Kurmi community, residing mainly in the western districts of the state, while Rajbanshi is spoken by the eponymous community in north Bengal. The announcement comes against the backdrop of the Kurmi community's agitation in Junglemahal over demands relating to its identity and tribal status.

He said the Congress had failed to include Santali in the Eighth Schedule, while former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had ensured its inclusion.

Claiming that the BJP had recognised the community's language, culture, and heritage, the CM urged people to have faith in him and said the government would honour the commitments made in its 'Sankalp Patra', including the inclusion of Kurmali and Rajbanshi in the Constitution's Eighth Schedule.

The programme was attended by former Jharkhand deputy chief minister and AJSU chief Sudesh Mahto. Adhikari also joined tribal Kurmi community leader Ajit Mahto in planting a Karam tree.

Speaking about the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Adhikari said the Kurmi community had been kept outside its ambit following a request from its representatives.

Adhikari said the state government's Department of Paschimanchal Unnayan was under his charge and that the entire Rs 1,600 crore allocated to the department would be spent on development in the western districts. "Development works will be carried out in all the villages here," he said.

Adhikari also announced plans to reactivate the Kurmi Development Board, saying the previous TMC government had allocated Rs 10 crore for it, while his government had sanctioned Rs 50 crore. "The Kurmi Development Board will be made functional soon. We have allocated Rs 50 crore for the development of the community in this year's budget. You have to complete all the work by March, and the amount will be enhanced in the next year's budget," he said.

Adhikari said he would meet leader Ajit Mahto and other representatives at Nabanna on September 30. "Ajitbabu was saying that Rs 10 is charged at the land department for obtaining records. I did not know about this. As soon as I came to know, I stopped this practice," he said.

"The workers in Jangalmahal will get reasonable wages. In the next six months, work worth a total of Rs 50 lakh will be carried out in every area here. We will provide 125 workdays and every individual worker will receive Rs 300 per day, totalling Rs 34,500. It's the responsibility of my government," he said.