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News Desk: The garden reopened after being closed for about a year and a half. BJP MP John Barla and MLA Manoj Tiggao appeared in the garden early in the morning. But Mamata Banerjee’s name was chanted from the stage to open the garden. The MPs and MLAs left the garden. Earlier, some workers started protesting in the garden demanding payment of arrears. Allegedly, this created a bit of chaos. Trinamool alleges BJP is behind the protest. On Monday, such an incident took place at Birpara Tea Garden.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself promised to acquire this garden in Duncan along with six other orchards before the last assembly elections. But since it was not implemented, the opposition has repeatedly fired at the Prime Minister and the BJP. In the meanwhile, Birpara tea garden was opened and closed more than once. The last time the garden was closed was in October 2019. A meeting in Siliguri in the run-up to the 2021 assembly elections decided to reopen the garden three days before the change of ownership.
But on this day, before the opening ceremony of the garden, a huge protest of some workers started. Meanwhile, government officials and grassroots leaders as well as John and Manoj reached the garden. Manoj was also present at the meeting in Siliguri to open the garden. Arriving at the garden, they also spoke to the protesting workers. But in the meanwhile, with the achievement of opening the garden, the cheers started in the name of the Chief Minister. Then Barla and Manoj left the garden. However, Barla said, “TMC is doing politics by opening a garden before the vote. That is why they are shouting in the name of the leaders without talking about the government. That’s why we came out. ”
After John and Manoj left, however, the protests continued in the garden. Garden workers Parameshwar Oraon and Champa Oraon said that they have been victims of politics in the name of opening gardens before. They will not join the garden until the arrears, including bonuses, are paid. Mohan Sharma, president of the Tea Garden Trinamool Workers Union, said, “John Barla went to Birpara Tea Garden on this day to do politics.” Trinamool alleged that the BJP was also behind the protests. MLA Manoj said, “Workers have been cheated before. So this time they have promised to settle the arrears at once”. Mannalal Jain, another Trinamool leader said that arrears of labourers will be paid step by step.
