Siliguri, February 16, 2026 — Thousands of youths took to the streets of Siliguri today for the “Chaakri Chai Bengal” (We Want Jobs Bengal) rally, organized by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM). The massive protest culminated in a unique symbolic act, with participants mailing thousands of postcards directly to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, demanding immediate employment opportunities and industrial revival.

Protesters highlighted a “deepening economic crisis,” citing the closure of thousands of factories and the forced migration of Bengal’s youth to cities like Delhi and Bengaluru for work. The demonstrators fiercely criticized the state government for failing to fill over 10 lakh vacant posts and condemned alleged corruption in recruitment processes, including the SSC and municipal hiring scandals. Rejecting the recent unemployment allowance as a mere “election tactic,” the youths demanded dignity through genuine employment, a sentiment echoed by Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, who joined the march in solidarity.