Suvendu writes to EC, urges Forest Rights papers be accepted for tea workers over SIR row

The Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded that Forest Rights Act documents held by tea garden workers be recognised during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, warning that thousands risk losing their voting rights. Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, has written to the Chief Election Commissioner seeking immediate intervention.

Addressing a press conference in Kolkata along with Alipurduar MP Manoj Tigga and Falakata MLA Dipak Barman, Suvendu said the issue was first raised by Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, who had written to the state’s Chief Electoral Officer highlighting the documentation challenges faced by tea garden workers across Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars regions.

Suvendu said many tea garden workers have lived in these areas for generations but lack formal documents such as school certificates. He argued that this is a nationwide issue, which led to the enactment of the Forest Rights Act in 2006 to safeguard the rights of people living in forest areas.

He noted that Raju Bista had demanded that Forest Rights documents be included in the 11-point list of valid documents for SIR, but alleged that no clarity has been provided so far. Suvendu said BJP MPs and MLAs from tea garden regions have now jointly requested verification of workers’ documents under the Forest Rights Act.

Emphasising that no worker should be excluded from the voter list, Suvendu said the party expects the Election Commission to consider the request. He also attacked Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, alleging that 25 percent of tea garden land has been sold, with restaurants and bars coming up on those areas, worsening the condition of workers.