West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari promises to withdraw cases against Kurmi protesters
Suvendu Adhikari told the Kurmi community that cases from past agitations under TMC government would be withdrawn. He linked the move to promised language recognition, development funding and protection of hills and forests.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday said all cases registered against members, leaders and supporters of the tribal Kurmi community during their agitations under the previous Trinamool Congress government would be withdrawn. He also assured the community of recognition and protection of its language, culture, heritage and rights.
Addressing a Kurmi community programme, Adhikari said his government would honour commitments made to the community, including steps linked to the Kurmali language, development spending in the western districts and the revival of the Kurmi Development Board. He also said the hills and forests of the region would not be allowed to be disturbed.
Speaking at 'Karm Parbatia Mahajaruya' in Chakaltore gram panchayat area of Purulia-I block, Adhikari accused the previous government of failing the Kurmi community. "The previous government did not fulfil any of its promises. They kept lying to the people here and tried to create division among the community members to isolate them from the rest of the country. The police were used during the agitation. False cases were filed. Even children and the elderly were not spared," he said.
Kurmis had staged road and railway blockades in the state's western districts during the Trinamool Congress rule, seeking Scheduled Tribe status and inclusion of the Kurmali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, among other demands. Adhikari said, "All the cases imposed on the Kurmi people during their agitation will be withdrawn. This is my assurance to you." The announcement came a year after Kurmi activists staged a rail blockade in the state on September 20, 2025, over the same demands. Police had registered three cases in connection with the blockade, in which 51 people were arrested. Purulia district police arrested 29 people, while the Railway Protection Force arrested 22.
Adhikari also repeated his assurance on the community's language, culture, heritage and rights. "You had demanded recognition of the Kurmali language. Our leader, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, gave you assurance to fulfil that and mentioned that in Sankalpa Patra," he said. He added, "Recently, after I became the CM, your leaders met Shah and the process (of recognising Kurmali and Rajbangshi languages) will soon commence and will be completed in quick time." Kurmali is spoken by the Kurmi community, which lives mainly in the western districts of the state, while Rajbanshi is spoken by the Rajbanshi community in north Bengal.
The announcements came amid the Kurmi community's agitation in Junglemahal over demands linked to identity and tribal status. Referring to language recognition, Adhikari said, "Congress did not give the Santali language a place in the Eighth Schedule, but Vajpayeeji did. If anyone has recognised your language, culture and heritage, it is the BJP. We will fulfil the promises made in the Sankalp Patra," including the inclusion of Kurmali and Rajbanshi in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Adhikari had earlier told officials about the proposed withdrawal of the cases at an administrative meeting on the western districts in Durgapur. The programme on Sunday was attended by former Jharkhand deputy chief minister and AJSU chief Sudesh Mahto. Adhikari also joined tribal Kurmi community leader Ajit Mahto in planting a Karam tree. On the Uniform Civil Code, he said the Kurmi community had been kept outside its ambit after a request from its representatives.
He said the Department of Paschimanchal Unnayan was under his charge and that the entire Rs 1,600 crore allocated to it would be spent on development in the western districts. "Development works will be carried in all the villages here," he said. He also announced plans to reactivate the Kurmi Development Board, saying the previous government had allocated Rs 10 crore for it, while his government had sanctioned Rs 50 crore. "The Kurmi Development Board will be made functional soon. We have allocated Rs 50 crore for the development of the community in this year's budget. You have to complete all the work by March, and the amount will be enhanced in the next year's budget," he said.
Adhikari said he would meet Ajit Mahto and other representatives at Nabanna on September 30. "Ajitbabu was saying that Rs 10 is charged at the land department for obtaining records. I did not know about this. As soon as I came to know, I stopped this practice," he said.
He also spoke about work and wages in the region. "The workers in Jangalmahal will get reasonable wages. In the next six months, work worth a total of Rs 50 lakh will be carried out in every area here. We will provide 125 workdays and every individual worker will receive Rs 300 per day, totalling Rs 34,500. It's the responsibility of my government," he said.
On concerns over the alleged sale or auction of hills, Adhikari said he would not allow any such move. "I was told by Ajit babu that you had cooperated with the previous government, but they were selling off the hills. I give you my word, I will not allow anyone to touch the hills, forest or any of them. This is the gift of Mother Nature. I have already told the DM and the mineral corporation that no hill will be allowed to be auctioned," he said.
In sum, Adhikari used the programme to promise withdrawal of cases against Kurmi agitators, press ahead with commitments on language recognition and development, revive the Kurmi Development Board, and assure the community that the region's hills and forests would be protected.