The saffron camp has planned to revert the pressure on the Mamata Banerjee government and her party over the issue of provident fund for tea workers of north Bengal with demonstrations in front of police stations for allegedly not taking steps against tea companies defaulting on PF.

John Barla, the BJP MP of Alipurduar and Union minister of state for minority affairs, said authorities of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) have filed FIRs against a number of tea companies that own tea estates in the Dooars, that is, in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar, for not depositing PF in the workers’ accounts in various police stations of these districts.

“However, the police have not taken any steps against any tea company so far. Trinamul leaders instead of approaching the police demonstrated in front of the houses of our legislators and in front of my house on the issue. Now, we have decided to demonstrate in front of the police stations for their inaction,” said Barla.

In January and the first week of February, Trinamul leaders, accompanied by tea workers, had held sit-ins near the homes of the BJP MLAs of Alipurduar. A similar demonstration was held at Lakhipara tea estate in Banarhat block of Jalpaiguri in front of Barla’s house.

Trinamul’s decision to launch such protests came in the wake of instructions from its all-India general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. Last year, at a public meeting, he criticised the PF authorities.

“Hundreds of workers are being deprived of their dues and PF authorities are not doing anything. Local MLAs and MPs of the BJP are silent. We will demonstrate near their homes if the issue is not resolved,” he had said.

Barla on Friday said according to data with the PF authorities, 88 FIRs have been filed with the police against 44 tea estates of Dooars for allegedly not paying PF from 2014 to 2022.

“The total due PF is around Rs 41.88 crore,” he said.

Sources said that after complaints, some gardens approached the court and got orders to clear PF in installments.

BJP leaders based in the doors said the rural elections are ahead and Trinamul is trying to prove that because of lapses on the part of the PF authorities, workers are not getting PF.

“This is completely wrong. The authorities have taken steps. We will tell workers that because of the indifference of state police, tea companies are not clearing PF dues. We believe strict steps like arrests of company representatives can change the situation,” said a local BJP leader.

The Trinamul leadership, however, seemed unfazed by these developments. “The PF authorities and the BJP at the Centre can’t evade their responsibilities,” said Jalpaiguri district INTTUC chief Rajesh Lakra.