The Joint Forum, an apex body of 20-odd tea garden unions in north Bengal, brought out a rally and organised a public meeting in Darjeeling demonstrating a clear intent to keep the recently acquired Opposition momentum in the hills going.

Tea garden unions of all political parties in Darjeeling hills, except the Trinamul Congress and the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), are part of the Joint Forum.

The rally, which started from the GDNS ground in Darjeeling and converted into a public meeting at Chowk Bazar, was brought out to highlight three issues.

“The government must withdraw the notification to grant rights to only up to 5 decimal of land to tea garden residents immediately. This rally is also organised to demand the payment of annual bonus to tea gardens at the rate of 20 per cent and in one installment,” said Sunil Rai, the convener of the Joint Forum (hills). "We also demand the arrest of GTA Sabha member Dhondup Pakhrin immediately."

The Opposition managed to build momentum after the state government notification on August 1 to grant up to 5 decimals of land to tea garden workers.

Many in the hills started demanding that the state grant the entire land that a resident has, not just 5 decimals. This demand, taken up by the Opposition, threatened to change the political dynamics in the hills.

Realising it went against the state government and the BGPM, Anit Thapa, who helms the BGPM, took a U-turn last week.

Thapa, initially supporting the state’s notification, also started demanding that the 5-decimal cap be done away with.

On September 12, the state government ordered the halt of any survey related to land rights in tea gardens of the Darjeeling hills and Kalimpong.

“Hence, Thapa took the wind out of the Opposition’s sails,” said an observer.

Hence, many in the hills believe that the Opposition was now desperately trying to keep the momentum.

The issue raised by the Joint Forum of paying the annual bonus of 20 per cent of the worker’s earnings in one installment also directly impacts workers. In the past, there have been protests when the management agreed to pay less than 20 per cent in two installments.

The bonus has to be cleared before Durga Puja.

“It is not as potent as the land issue that the BGPM has been able to largely defuse,” said an observer.

The third issue raised by the Joint Forum pertains to an alleged attack on Opposition leaders by GTA Sabha member Dhondup Pakhrin at Pubong tea garden on September 8. Pakhrin told this newspaper he was present but not involved in the skirmish.

The BGPM also announced a rally in Darjeeling on September 24 on land rights minus the 5-decimal cap.