No more division of Bengal/Agreement doesn't mean division of Bengal: Mamata Banerjee

Pintail Village, North Bengal, Jul 18 : Ruling out further division, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today reaffirmed that the state would remain intact irrespective of its socio-political requirements.
Speaking on the occasion of the signing of the tripartite agreement among the Centre, the state government and the GJM to resolve the Darjeeling tangle, Ms Banerjee said, ''There will be no more division of Bengal. We will not take the path at any cost while adopting policies and mplementing those relating to overall development of the state.'' She stated that the new proposed body under the GTA would ensure all round development not only for Darjeeling but also for Kalimpong, Kurseong and all other adjoining areas. ''Bengal will not be divided any more, come what may. We will march towards development keeping intact our present political and geographic identity,'' the Chief Minister asserted. Ms Banerjee informed that the GTA election could be held within six months through which 45 members would be elected. Lambasting the criticism over naming of the GTA starting with Gorkhaland, Ms Banerjee said the idea was mooted by the previous Left Front government, which was conceptualised as Gorkhaland Regional Authority. She said the government was also 'sympathetic' to the inclusion of Terai and Dooras under the GTA. Taking strong exception to the strike call given by different organisations protesting the GTA, Ms Banerjee denied that it would encourage the demand for a separate state. ''Darjeeling will never be transformed to Gorkhaland. If it changes, it will only emerge as another Switzerland,'' Ms Banerjee remarked.

She also said the demand for a greater Cooch Behar would not be entertained by the government that would also take step to stop all secessionist movement like Kamtapuri.

Agreement doesn't mean division of Bengal:

Sukna (West Bengal) July 18 : The Darjeeling tripartite accord would not lead to any division of the state, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Monday, accusing the Left Front and other opposition parties of playing "divisive politics" on the issue. "The state has not been divided. It is one and the same. Darjeeling is an integral part of West Bengal. It is the heart of the state and so are the other parts of the hills. The hills and the plains will together march towards prosperity and development," Banerjee said at the accord signing ceremony. At a ceremony also attended by union Home Minister P. Chidambaram at Pintail village in Kurseong sub-division of Darjeeling district, a historic tripartite agreement on the Darjeeling hills was signed between the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) and the West Bengal and central governments.

At the core of the accord is the formation of a new autonomous, elected Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA), a hill council armed with more powers than its predecessor Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) formed in the late 1980s.

Countering criticism that the naming of the new hill development council as Gorkhaland Territorial Administration could ultimately lead to the formation of a separate state of Gorkhaland, Banerjee said: "We have only changed ‘Regional' into ‘Territorial'. Nothing else has changed." 

"Those who are doing politics over names must keep quiet and let the new government function. They did nothing during the 34 years when they were on power," Banerjee said, referring to the Left Front that ruled the state uninterruptedly from 1977 to May this year.

Accusing political parties of playing divisive politics by seeking to create a rift between the people in the hills and plains of Darjeeling district, she said: "There have been many a politics to divide the hills. Parties have plotted to create rift between the peoples of the plains and that of the hills. We will never let that happen.

"The hills and the plains will always remain together. Only when the hills are fine will the plains be okay. Siliguri (the plains sub-division of Darjeeling district) and (hills) of Darjeeling are twin sisters."

Banerjee said the election of the representatives of the GTA would be held within six months. The new autonomous agency would get all help from the state and central governments.

She also said Darjeeling and other tourist attractions in the area would return to their earlier glory. "Darjeeling will be the Switzerland of India."

According to the chief minister, a host of projects, including super specialty hospitals, multi-disciplinary colleges, research centres, schools, cold storages and multi storey car parks, would be set up under the auspices of the GTA.

--IANS