Kolkata, Sept. 20 -- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday announced the withdrawal of all cases registered against Kurmi leaders, activists and supporters during agitations under the previous Trinamool Congress government.
Speaking at a Kurmi community programme at Karm Parbatia Mahajaruya in Purulia, Adhikari promised constitutional recognition for Kurmali and a fresh push for development in Junglemahal.
Addressing the gathering, Adhikari said the previous government had used police action and cases to suppress the community's agitation for Scheduled Tribe status and other demands. He claimed that even children and senior citizens were not spared by the police.
"All the cases imposed on the Kurmi people during their agitation will be withdrawn," the Chief Minister said.
The announcement came exactly a year after a major Kurmi rail blockade in Purulia on September 20, 2025, when protesters demanded ST status and the inclusion of Kurmali in the Constitution's Eighth Schedule. Adhikari promised prompt inclusion of Kurmali and Rajbanshi in the Eighth Schedule.
Three cases were registered in connection with the agitation and 51 people were arrested - 29 by Purulia police and 22 by the Railway Protection Force.
Adhikari also announced that the Kurmi Development Board would be reactivated, with Rs 50 crore allocated for community development in this year's budget, against Rs 10 crore allocated by the previous Trinamool government.
He said the entire Rs 1,600 crore allocation to the Paschimanchal Unnayan department would be spent on development in western Bengal. He promised 125 workdays at Rs 300 a day for Junglemahal workers and said work worth Rs 50 lakh would be undertaken in every area over the next six months.
Adhikari also assured the community that no hills or forests in the region would be auctioned or disturbed. He said he would meet Kurmi leaders, including Ajit Mahto, at Nabanna on September 30.
The Chief Minister said Kurmi was kept out of the ambit of the Uniform Civil Code following pleas from community leaders.
Later, Adhikari held an administrative meeting to discuss investment prospects in Purulia. The state plans to attract investments worth Rs 1 lakh crore over the next five years, with industries such as steel, cement, defence items and solar power being considered.
The Chief Minister also discussed the Chhara airport, which is expected to start operations soon.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.