Fast off after Partha word

Darjeeling, April 4: Seven workers of a shut garden here suspended their hunger strike today, reportedly after assurances from industries minister Partha Chatterjee and following “positive” results on their demand that the lease of the tea estate should be cancelled.

The workers under the banner of the Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union, an affiliate of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, started the indefinite fast on the premises of the district magistrate’s office here from March 27, demanding the cancellation of the lease of Ringtang tea garden, which has been shut for more than 15 years.

The Morcha union had alleged that the management had virtually abandoned the garden since a devastating fire razed the factory on December 19, 1996.

P.T. Sherpa, president of the Morcha union, today said: “We have got some positive response to our demand and that is why we have decided to suspend the indefinite hunger strike from today.”

Sherpa claimed that following the pressure generated by the hunger strike, the land tribunal has brought forward its hearing on the lease cancellation. “The land tribunal was slated to hear the case on April 25 but following our pressure they held a hearing today. We are confident that the tribunal will give its verdict on April 10. We also received a communication from the state commerce and industries minister Partha Chattejree, requesting us to withdraw the hunger strike,” said Sherpa.

“The minister has maintained that he is collecting facts on the garden and is keen to resolve the issue as early as possible.”

The land tribunal is looking into the Ringtang issue since the district administration showcaused garden owner Sushil Chowdhury asking him why the lease should not be cancelled. “The showcause notice had been issued in 2007 following which Sushil Chowdhury challenged it before the land tribunal on the grounds that he could not be blamed for the state of affairs in the garden,” a senior district official had earlier said.

The Morcha has argued that Chowdhury was never interested in rebuilding the factory and had been depriving the workers of wages and statutory benefits for the past 17 years.(Telegraph)