Chief minister Mamata Banerjee today appeared to have taken a softer stance to the ongoing agitation in the Darjeeling hills by appealing for peace even as she sought to drive home the point there would be no division of West Bengal. She also did not forget to take a dig at the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha for indulging in anti-people politics.
“Bahar ka kisi ka baat sunkey ghar ko aag mat lagana” (Don’t set your home on fire under the influence of outsiders), was what Banerjee had to say this afternoon at Bagdogra airport before heading to Kalimpong to attend a programme organised by the Lepcha community. She did not elaborate on what she meant by “outsiders”.
The chief minister once again played the development card saying an amount of Rs300 crore is lying unused with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. Had the funds been used, many jobs would have been created, and roads, schools and hospitals constructed, she said, adding the indefinite bandh has mainly affected poor people and students not to mention the immense loss to the tourism industry.
Banerjee also said the state government has a grand plan for creating a “new” Darjeeling, but all development proposals have come to naught due to the regular bandhs. As in the past, she refrained from issuing any threat to those spearheading the agitation.
Further, the chief minister said her government is open to talks for resolving the present imbroglio in Darjeeling. She said, “Development and politics should not be mixed up. The doors are closed for the latter and I think they must now be opened for the common people.”
Banerjee did not indicate if her government would invite GJM leaders for talks or whether she would wait for them to make the first move.
“We want peace in Darjeeling and I’m here with a message of peace. Let there be development; I won’t tolerate disruptions of any form,” she said.
There were massive security arrangements today both at Bagdogra airport and all along the route to Kalimpong. TMC leaders from the hills and some children from the Lepcha and Nepali communities were present at the airport dressed in traditional attire to welcome the chief minister.(EOI)
“Bahar ka kisi ka baat sunkey ghar ko aag mat lagana” (Don’t set your home on fire under the influence of outsiders), was what Banerjee had to say this afternoon at Bagdogra airport before heading to Kalimpong to attend a programme organised by the Lepcha community. She did not elaborate on what she meant by “outsiders”.
The chief minister once again played the development card saying an amount of Rs300 crore is lying unused with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. Had the funds been used, many jobs would have been created, and roads, schools and hospitals constructed, she said, adding the indefinite bandh has mainly affected poor people and students not to mention the immense loss to the tourism industry.
Banerjee also said the state government has a grand plan for creating a “new” Darjeeling, but all development proposals have come to naught due to the regular bandhs. As in the past, she refrained from issuing any threat to those spearheading the agitation.
Further, the chief minister said her government is open to talks for resolving the present imbroglio in Darjeeling. She said, “Development and politics should not be mixed up. The doors are closed for the latter and I think they must now be opened for the common people.”
Banerjee did not indicate if her government would invite GJM leaders for talks or whether she would wait for them to make the first move.
“We want peace in Darjeeling and I’m here with a message of peace. Let there be development; I won’t tolerate disruptions of any form,” she said.
There were massive security arrangements today both at Bagdogra airport and all along the route to Kalimpong. TMC leaders from the hills and some children from the Lepcha and Nepali communities were present at the airport dressed in traditional attire to welcome the chief minister.(EOI)
Mamata for dialogue to end unrest in the Hills
Bagdogra, 2 September
Looking remarkably restrained as compared to her earlier belligerence vis-à-vis the GJMM-sponsored shutdown stir for Gorkhaland, the chief minister, Miss Mamata Banerjee today espoused dialogue to end the unrest, adding that restoration of normalcy thorough dialogue is an imperative in the interests of the common people. “I am not for slamming doors on dialogue for sectarian political interests. However, indivisibility of Bengal is non-negotiable,” she said while talking to the media persons outside Bagdogra Airport today before leaving for Kalimpong.
“The channels of dialogue should always remain open. Politics cannot gain precedence over discussion. This is what democracy champions. This is also an imperative in the interests of the common people who are generally at the receiving end of the spells of political unrest,” she said.
Stressing that politicised stir takes a toll on development, she said all development works initiated in the Hills have come to a standstill. “This is what happened when the GNLF movement was on. The situation is almost the same now,” she said.
Cautioning the GJMM without naming the party against falling prey to machinations being indulged in by some unscrupulous and crafty people, she said: “Do not set your houses on fire by listening to others.”
“I am shocked to see that the students are unable to go to their schools. Poor people are unable to get rations. Tea export has remained stalled. The vehicles carrying patients are being torched,” she said.
Championing development ~ her pet theme to woo the people seemingly tired of the statehood histrionics, the chief minister said the GTA had been firmed up to usher in development. “But bandhs called every six months has become an anathema for the cause of development. Rs 300 crore meant for development is lying unutilised due to the stir. It is a folly to muddle politics with development. The mind-set of those spearheading political stir should change,” she said.(SNS)
Looking remarkably restrained as compared to her earlier belligerence vis-à-vis the GJMM-sponsored shutdown stir for Gorkhaland, the chief minister, Miss Mamata Banerjee today espoused dialogue to end the unrest, adding that restoration of normalcy thorough dialogue is an imperative in the interests of the common people. “I am not for slamming doors on dialogue for sectarian political interests. However, indivisibility of Bengal is non-negotiable,” she said while talking to the media persons outside Bagdogra Airport today before leaving for Kalimpong.
“The channels of dialogue should always remain open. Politics cannot gain precedence over discussion. This is what democracy champions. This is also an imperative in the interests of the common people who are generally at the receiving end of the spells of political unrest,” she said.
Stressing that politicised stir takes a toll on development, she said all development works initiated in the Hills have come to a standstill. “This is what happened when the GNLF movement was on. The situation is almost the same now,” she said.
Cautioning the GJMM without naming the party against falling prey to machinations being indulged in by some unscrupulous and crafty people, she said: “Do not set your houses on fire by listening to others.”
“I am shocked to see that the students are unable to go to their schools. Poor people are unable to get rations. Tea export has remained stalled. The vehicles carrying patients are being torched,” she said.
Championing development ~ her pet theme to woo the people seemingly tired of the statehood histrionics, the chief minister said the GTA had been firmed up to usher in development. “But bandhs called every six months has become an anathema for the cause of development. Rs 300 crore meant for development is lying unutilised due to the stir. It is a folly to muddle politics with development. The mind-set of those spearheading political stir should change,” she said.(SNS)
CM’s Hills visit: NBSTC buses go off roads
Kurseong, 2 September
The main mode of transport during these troubled times of the strike-stuck Darjeeling Hills ~ the NBSTC-run buses ~ have suddenly vanished from the roads yesterday. The situation is the same today as passengers were found waiting for vehicles for hours to ferry them to their destinations.
Notably, to relieve the people of the transportation problem during the spells of the indefinite shutdowns, the state government had pressed into service a number of NBSTC fleets in the second week of August.
Initially, the people did not show much of interest in boarding the state-run buses. However, later when the strike dragged on, the situation changed. These NBSTC buses were seen transporting local commuters from the Hills to Silguri. With the number of passengers having substantially increased, the state government decided to provide them with security cover. Two armed personnel from the Central Forces were deployed in each of the NBSTC buses.
But mysteriously, they disappeared altogether yesterday to the woe of the commuters.
The situation has remained the same today when the chief minister has reached the Hills on her two-day visit.
Sources said that most of the buses are now being used to ferry security personnel in connection with the chief minister’s visit. So, it seems, these are out of bounds for the local people.
The NBSTC officials based in Siliguri have ascribed this to the shortage of buses.
They, however, failed to enlighten when the service would resume.(SNS)
The main mode of transport during these troubled times of the strike-stuck Darjeeling Hills ~ the NBSTC-run buses ~ have suddenly vanished from the roads yesterday. The situation is the same today as passengers were found waiting for vehicles for hours to ferry them to their destinations.
Notably, to relieve the people of the transportation problem during the spells of the indefinite shutdowns, the state government had pressed into service a number of NBSTC fleets in the second week of August.
Initially, the people did not show much of interest in boarding the state-run buses. However, later when the strike dragged on, the situation changed. These NBSTC buses were seen transporting local commuters from the Hills to Silguri. With the number of passengers having substantially increased, the state government decided to provide them with security cover. Two armed personnel from the Central Forces were deployed in each of the NBSTC buses.
But mysteriously, they disappeared altogether yesterday to the woe of the commuters.
The situation has remained the same today when the chief minister has reached the Hills on her two-day visit.
Sources said that most of the buses are now being used to ferry security personnel in connection with the chief minister’s visit. So, it seems, these are out of bounds for the local people.
The NBSTC officials based in Siliguri have ascribed this to the shortage of buses.
They, however, failed to enlighten when the service would resume.(SNS)
Mamata talks nudge for hills - CM harps on development, says doors must be opened for common people
Siliguri, Sept. 2: Chief minister
Mamata Banerjee today said the doors for talks to resolve the hill
crisis must be opened for the sake of development in Darjeeling.
“The doors (for talks) have been
closed for political reasons (by the hill leadership). These doors must
be opened for the sake of the common people. It is the common people who
are the sufferers and so the attitude and the politics (of the hill
leadership) must change,” Mamata said on arrival at Bagdogra airport en
route to Kalimpong this afternoon.
The chief
minister, who was welcomed by representatives of the Lepcha community
which is felicitating her for forming the Lepcha development board, said
the unending strike in the hills was affecting development.
“Due to the
ongoing strike which has been going on for over a month, development
work in the hills has come to a standstill. There is still a corpus of
Rs 300 crore which is lying unutilised. This was meant for development
in the hills,” Mamata said.
The chief minister then stressed that politics must be separated from development.
“Earlier, there
was Ghisingh (leading an agitation) and now, it (an agitation) has
started again. If there is a problem in the hills after every six
months, how can we carry out development work?” Mamata said.
She said she was
in favour of democratic movements as long as they did not come in the
way of progress. “We love democratic movements and respect democracy.
There can be politics and even political movements. But the movement
should not come in the way of development in the region. I want peace in
the hills and want people across north Bengal to stay well,” she said.
The chief minister
also expressed disappointment over the inconvenience faced by hill
people because of the ongoing indefinite strike in the Darjeeling hills.
“I am shocked to
learn that children are not being able to go to school. Poor people are
not getting rations, they cannot go to hospitals and cars carrying them
to hospitals are being torched,” she said. “It is wrong to let the
common people suffer, while some people have enough food stocked in
their homes and are sending their children to study abroad.”
According to the
chief minister, the state would take up the task of electing the chief
executive of the GTA Sabha if the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha did not elect
any of its members for the post lying vacant since Bimal Gurung’s
resignation in July.
“The GTA was
formed by the state, the Centre and the local party (Morcha). The GTA
was formed and elections were held. They (Morcha) had provided us with
the name of a nominated member for the post (of chief executive). But we
want that an elected representative should hold the post. The meeting
(of the GTA) has been called (on September 4). If they do not elect
anybody, the state will sit and decide on the issue,” Mamata said.
She also elaborated on the development work taken up in hills during her tenure.
“We have taken up
elaborate development work in places such as Lamahata and Takdah.
Projects are also in progress at Sandakphu, Kalimpong and Gajoldoba,”
Mamata said. “We have built polytechnics, set up colleges, hospitals,
university and other social infrastructure in the hills.”
“I would appeal to
all my brothers and sisters of Darjeeling to uphold peace. Don’t let
others persuade you to set the hills on fire,” she said.(The Telegraph)
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