TMC’s oppression surpassed those of British: Suvendu at Bankura’s Hul festival

West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari unleashed a blistering attack on the previous Trinamool Congress government for allegedly denying tribal communities their basic needs, highlighting that tribal people deserve to receive the full benefits of development and social welfare initiatives.

Addressing a public gathering during the Hul festival celebrations at Mukutmanipur in Bankura district, on Tuesday, Adhikari asserted that his government remained committed to ensuring comprehensive development for tribal communities.

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“This government is committed to giving the benefits of all-round development including absolute food and lifestyle security, educational and medical facilities, and better avenues of livelihood support,” he said.

Taking the opportunity to launch a scathing attack on the previous Mamata Banerjee-led government, the chief minister said, “The degree of Trinamool Congress’s atrocities had even surpassed the oppression by the British, sometimes.”

“It’s shocking that in 2025-26, the previous government allocated a meagre Rs 6 crore for the entire 75 blocks of Junglemahal districts, which we have escalated to Rs 1,200 crore in the current budget,” he added.

Adhikari also issued a stern warning against individuals allegedly involved in the distribution of forged Scheduled Tribe certificates, an issue that has remained a source of concern among tribal communities for nearly a decade.

“Many gained benefits out of this unholy nexus. None — neither those who facilitated it nor those who procured such fake certificates — will be spared and will surely be prosecuted. The investigation into this is in progress now,” he said.

Several complaints over fake ST certificates had been raised earlier, with tribal groups repeatedly voicing concerns over the alleged misuse of reservation and welfare benefits.

Reiterating his government’s commitment to tribal welfare, Adhikari said, “Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had given official status to Olchiki — your language. Now Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has honoured a tribal woman, Droupadi Murmu, by making her the country’s first tribal President,” he said, adding that TMC dishonoured her.

Speaking of tribal representation, the chief minister said, “Our BJP government accommodates 17 tribal MLAs, including Kashipur in Purulia, although there were only 16 seats reserved for tribal communities. You voted wholeheartedly for us and now it is our turn to deliver true welfare to people who remained marginalised for decades,” he said.

“For Lodha, Birhor and Sabar communities, we have prepared an alternative food security system and they will start receiving its benefits from August. We have also added an additional Rs 500 to the previous government’s Jai Johar pension,” he said.

The Jai Johar scheme, introduced by the Mamata Banerjee government in April 2020, had provided a monthly pension of Rs 1,000 for elderly tribal beneficiaries.

Announcing financial assistance initiatives and educational support measures, the chief minister said, “From tomorrow, 1.20 crore Bengal sisters and mothers will start receiving monthly support of Rs 3,000 under the Annapurna Yojana scheme, under which five lakh tribal women have been included.”

“The monthly food allowance meant for tribal students has been enhanced to Rs 3,300,” he added.

The Chief Minister also announced plans for long-term regional development. “We shall prepare a development corridor connecting Jharkhand and the Durgapur industrial zone through Junglemahal districts, which will help improve lives and generate opportunities. We have asked the Tribal Welfare Department to identify land for a state-of-the-art hospital here,” he said.

Adhikari arrived at Mukutmanipur by helicopter to commemorate the sacrifice of tribal rebels who had launched an uprising against British oppression in 1855 and inaugurated statues of Sidho Murmu and Kanho Murmu, revered martyrs of the Santal rebellion.

Earlier, in 2020, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had also inaugurated a statue of tribal icon Birsa Munda in Bankura.