‘Won’t come here as tourist, will work for development’: Suvendu’s jibe at Mamata in Kurseong
The Statesman | 16 June 2026
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said in West Bengal’s Kurseong on Tuesday (June 16) while former Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee used to visit the hill areas only like tourists, he has come to north Bengal to address people’s issues and advance development works.
Taking a jibe at Banerjee, Adhikari said, “The former Chief Minister used to come to the hills as a tourist. I have come here within months of assuming office to work, to deliver development and to fulfil the aspirations of the people of the hills.”
The Chief Minister alleged that the hills had always been neglected and fell prey to rampant corruption by the erstwhile TMC government.
“The people of the hills have waited for years for change and development. Their aspirations will now be fulfilled,” he said while addressing a large public gathering at Monteviot Ground in Kurseong, adding that, “There is no fear in the hills anymore. Fear is out. Trust has returned. The BJP government is one people can rely upon.”
Referring to the landslides that struck the hills in 2025, the Chief Minister claimed that his predecessor had failed to visit the affected areas and instead remained occupied with the Durga Puja Carnival in Kolkata.
Adhikari further accused the previous government of obstructing the implementation of welfare initiatives for tea garden workers. He claimed that the Prime Minister’s welfare scheme for tea garden workers could not be implemented in the tea estates of the Hills, Terai and Dooars due to opposition from the previous state government.
Comparing with Assam, he said that while the neighbouring state had implemented welfare projects related to tea gardens worth Rs 370 crore, similar benefits had not reached North Bengal.
Highlighting the crisis in the tea industry, Adhikari said that 25 tea gardens in North Bengal remain closed, including 12 in the Darjeeling Hills. He announced that a Rs 330-crore package would be implemented under the PM Cha Samriddhi Yojana to address the problems related to closed tea gardens.
The Chief Minister also announced recruitment of 1,000 personnel in the Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR), with 30 per cent reservation for women candidates.
The Chief Minister also accused the previous government and sections within the police administration of carrying out political repression in the hills during the previous regime. He announced that politically motivated cases registered against hill residents would be reviewed and withdrawn in accordance with legal provisions.
Questioning alleged irregularities within the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), Adhikari raised concerns over recruitment, financial management and utilisation of development funds. He claimed that around Rs 180 crore had been earmarked for development during 2024-25 but alleged that the funds were misused and failed to produce
visible results.
“Those involved in corruption within the GTA must be held accountable. This government will conduct a thorough investigation and no one found guilty will be spared,” he said.
Speaking about relief measures for landslide victims, the Chief Minister claimed that the previous administration had extended compensation to only ten affected families. He said his government had subsequently approved financial assistance for an additional 90 families that had earlier been denied benefits because they lacked land ownership
documents. Each family, he said, has been sanctioned Rs 3 lakh for house construction.
Adhikari also announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh to the families of those who allegedly lost their lives due to police firing or political violence during the previous regime.
Accusing the previous regime of promoting corruption, appeasement politics and a ‘syndicate’ culture, the Chief Minister claimed that several development initiatives in the hills had failed to deliver any significant benefits.
Speaking about the 11 development boards constituted for various hill communities, he alleged that these bodies had become instruments of patronage and financial irregularities.
“The development boards were projected as welfare institutions, but in reality they became mechanisms for siphoning off public funds and nurturing syndicate networks,” he claimed.
Reiterating his government’s commitment to the Hills, Adhikari said the BJP administration would focus on infrastructure development, tourism, tea garden welfare, employment generation and transparent governance to ensure balanced growth across the Darjeeling Hills, Terai and Dooars regions.
Adhikari was greeted by Darjeeling MP Raju Bista when he arrived at the Bagdogra airport on Tuesday morning.
Welcoming the Chief Minister, Bista said that the “visit holds special significance for our region as it reflects BJP’s continued commitment to the development and aspirations of the hill people.”
“We are confident that under his dynamic leadership and guidance, long-pending issues of the hills, including infrastructure development, tourism promotion, tea industry revival, and Permanent Political Solution will receive fresh momentum,” he expressed.