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Forward Bloc criticises CPI(M) on condition of tea garden workers

By Our Special Correspondent

Kolkata Nov. 7. The Forward Bloc, a prominent Left Front partner, today criticised the CPI(M), leader of West Bengal's ruling Front, for its "failure" to improve the condition of tea garden workers in North Bengal.

The Forward Bloc leaders told a press conference here that unless the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Government initiated steps to revive the tea gardens in two months, their party would conduct a sustained campaign in the region.

Ashok Ghosh, State Bloc secretary, said that 14 out of the total 168 tea gardens in the Dooars area in North Bengal were now closed, affecting 45,000 people.

"At least 320 men, women and children died last year of starvation and malnutrition," he claimed.

The garden owners were untraceable. They did not even attend meetings convened by the State Labour Minister.

Kamal Guha, Forward Bloc's Agriculture Minister in the Front Government, said the situation in the Dooars tea gardens was "explosive."

He was referring to Thursday's incident in the Dalgaon tea estate where 20 workers were burnt alive.

While declining to comment on the Dalgaon incident, Mr. Guha said that it was time Bengal's political parties realised the gravity of the situation and initiated serious measures to flush out anti-socials from the parties. "The State Government's role in reviving the tea gardens in Dooars is extremely disappointing."

Even the trade unions had failed to play any positive role, he said.

Mr. Guha urged the Chief Minister to take immediate steps to provide the necessary assistance to the jobless workers.

He said Mr. Bhattacharjee had already directed the district administration in Dooars to remove legal hurdles so that the affected workers could participate in the food-for-work programmes.

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