Darjeeing Tea and Tourism festival: festival opens, visitors throng hills

Dec 20(UNI)The West Bengal governnment sponsored Darjeeling Tea & Tourism festival was opened today amid hopes of restoring the past glory of this picturesque mountainous resort, which had witnessed violent movement of a separate Gorkhaland state for ethnic people. State minister for North Bengal Development Gautam Deb, Gorkha Mukti Morcha s general secrtary Roshan Giri and Darjeeling District Magistrate Soumitra Mohan called upon the people to use this occasion and usher in a new era in this hilly region. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who was scheduled to open the festival, could not attend it following her mother s death. Mr Deb said the new government was committed to fulfilling its promises for all round development of the hills. The hills, which had been witnessing violent agitations off and on since 1985 over the creation of a state by dividing West Bengal, had been maintaining peace since Mamata Banerjee came to power in May. The bond between the hills and plains cemented further after the tri-partite Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) agreement conceding new territory and administrative power. The GJM, however, has been demanding speedy implementation of GTA agreement. GJM general secretary Roshan Giri thanked the state government for the first time hosting such festival (December 20 to January 5, 2012) in the hills for promotion of tourism. Darjeeling MLA Trilok Dewan said this would foster good relations between the people of plains and hills as travelling opened new outlook and foster friendship. Darjeelng DM said the festival would be an annual event. UNI XC-PC KK SK NS1912