Darjeeling problem solved/Not demanding special package: Mamata

NEW DELHI: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who was in the capital Tuesday said the long-drawn Gorkhaland statehood problem in north Bengal has been "solved".

"The Darjeeling problem is solved. Whenever the cental government gives the time, we will sign the tripartite agreement," Banerjee told reporters here.

Less than a month after coming to power, Banerjee's government took a major step towards restoring peace in the Darjeeling Hills by finalising a pact with the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha to creat a new hill council with wider powers.

Banerjee further said that plans to visit Darjeeling were being pushed back because of heavy rains in the region.

At the core of the agreement is the formation of a new autonomous elected Hill Council, which is armed with more powers compared to the earlier Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council ( DGHC )).

The new council to be formed through enactment of a law would have administrative and financial powers and can frame rules related to the hills.

The council members will later be chosen through election but the body cannot enact any law. 

Not demanding special package: Mamata

New Delhi, June 21 (IBNS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she is not demanding any special package for her state from the centre but needs what is essential to meet the basic needs of poor people.

In New Delhi after taking over as the chief minister, Banerjee said: "We are concerned about roti, kapda and makan (bread, clothes and housing) of the poor people. So give us only that much to meet these demands."

"I am not asking for money for swimming pool or beautification," she said ahead of her meeting with the Prime Minister and the President on Tuesday.

She said the state is under huge debt owing to the financial mismanagement of the previous Left Front government.

Banerjee visited the Delhi Press Club for what she called an informal press interaction, but she replied to some difficult posers, brushed aside some and cut jokes over some others.

On the question of Lokpal Bill and if the Prime Minister should be under its purview, Mamata said it is immaterial who is included if the system does not work.

"I am not concerned if the PM or the Chief Justice of India is within the Lokpal. I also cannot answer it so casually without proper scrutiny. I think one person's inclusion or exclusion cannot change the system. The system has to change whether it is about administration or politics," she said.

She said one way of combating corruption is state funding of elections and let the Election Commission begin its reform on this.

"Only state funding of election can stop corruption," said Mamata who however made a strong demand to bring back the black money to India from outside.

"Bring the money back from outside. I don't want to say [name] A or B [account holders]. I want to say, A to Z, bring the money," she said.

On the Darjeeling problem (demand for Gorkhaland state carved out of West Bengal's northern region), she said she solved the problem of the hills within one month.

"We are now waiting for the tripartite meeting to happen when we will sign the agreement. We are waiting for the date of the central government. The agreement can be signed in Darjeeling, or Kolkata or New Delhi," she said.

Mamata said she will turn Darjeeling into Switzerland as promised and people will again visit the queen of hills.

She said she also would solve the Jungulmahal (the Maoist affected forest region in Midnapore area) problem and provide a package to the region.

"We will develop both Darjeeling and Jungulmahal. I will go there with financial package," she said, adding that there is peace in the area now.

She said the Maoists have not approached her for talks but if there is any official communication she will respond.

"We can solve any problem only with negotiations," she said.

She said she recognized 10,000 madrasas in West Bengal after coming to power and would not give any false promise to the minority, and instead try to solve their problem seriously.

Mamata also brushed aside the women politician tag saying she is for reservation of women in houses, but looks at politicians as one whole.

"We support the 33 reservation for women bill. But I think this country belongs to brothers and sisters. I belong to humanity, I am not just a woman," she said.

To a question on if she would support Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Minister of India, she said it is the internal matter of the Congress.

"I love the family. I have cordial relations with Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka. But it is their internal matter. We will support them as UPA partner," she said.

On land acquisition and forest land she said she is against any kind of forcible land acquisition and believes that the forest land belongs to the tribals.

"The tribals can best manage it," she said.

On probing alleged corruption of the previous government, she said there would be special audit and she would star e-governance.

To a question from a Bangladesh journalist, she said if Bangladesh wants she is ready to discuss anything.

"We love Bangladesh. When they want to talk, we will talk," said.

Mamata also cut jokes with the journalists and to a poser she said she takes tea in the morning, goes to treadmill for an hour and during the night mostly take rotis.