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SILIGURI: Pahaar hasche, Jangalmahal hasche (The Hills are smiling, so is Jangalmahal) read thousands of banners dotting lanes and bylanes in the Trinamool-run state, from the Dooars in the north to the Sunderbans in the south. But on Monday, chief minister Mamata Banerjee realized that her government's claim reflects little of the ground reality and chose to restrict her one-and-a-half-hour speech to development works she has lined up for North Bengal.
While inaugurating the North Bengal Festival at the Kanchenjungha Stadium on Monday, Mamata also announced a host of projects, particularly keeping in mind the forthcoming panchayat polls. On the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's (GJM) renewed demand for a separate state, she preferred to talk to GJM president Bimal Gurung before making her stand clear on the issue. She is scheduled to hold talks with Gurung on Tuesday.
Apart from distributing patta of land to nearly 1,000 persons, the CM also announced a number of projects in the tourism sector. "We are making a mega-circuit in the Dooars at a cost of Rs 46 crore. In Gajoldoba, we are coming up with a Rs 2500-crore project. In Siliguri, (Kawakhali) we are going to make a film city. These two things will change the face of Siliguri and turn it into a major economic hub of Bengal," she said.
The CM also announced a long list of the proposed industrial activities that are going to come up in North Bengal. The list includes a plastic processing cluster at Rajganj, garment clusters at Paharpur and Jaldhaka, an industrial hub at Ambari Falakata and an industrial estate at Dabgram. Mamata said that her government was planning to set up kishan bazaars, cold storages and ITIs in all blocks of the state and one polytechnic college in every subdivision.
"Our mission is to end the perils of the people of North Bengal, who often think they have been ignored and deprived. Let the flower of peace and tranquility bloom everywhere," she said.
A number of schemes like pre-Madhyamik scholarship for students from the minority community and minority loan were also distributed from the stage. Moreover, the CM awarded 23 persons with Banga Ratna Award. She also inaugurated the newly built building of North Bengal Dental College and the fair-price medicine shop at Siliguri hospital.
While inaugurating the North Bengal Festival at the Kanchenjungha Stadium on Monday, Mamata also announced a host of projects, particularly keeping in mind the forthcoming panchayat polls. On the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's (GJM) renewed demand for a separate state, she preferred to talk to GJM president Bimal Gurung before making her stand clear on the issue. She is scheduled to hold talks with Gurung on Tuesday.
Apart from distributing patta of land to nearly 1,000 persons, the CM also announced a number of projects in the tourism sector. "We are making a mega-circuit in the Dooars at a cost of Rs 46 crore. In Gajoldoba, we are coming up with a Rs 2500-crore project. In Siliguri, (Kawakhali) we are going to make a film city. These two things will change the face of Siliguri and turn it into a major economic hub of Bengal," she said.
The CM also announced a long list of the proposed industrial activities that are going to come up in North Bengal. The list includes a plastic processing cluster at Rajganj, garment clusters at Paharpur and Jaldhaka, an industrial hub at Ambari Falakata and an industrial estate at Dabgram. Mamata said that her government was planning to set up kishan bazaars, cold storages and ITIs in all blocks of the state and one polytechnic college in every subdivision.
"Our mission is to end the perils of the people of North Bengal, who often think they have been ignored and deprived. Let the flower of peace and tranquility bloom everywhere," she said.
A number of schemes like pre-Madhyamik scholarship for students from the minority community and minority loan were also distributed from the stage. Moreover, the CM awarded 23 persons with Banga Ratna Award. She also inaugurated the newly built building of North Bengal Dental College and the fair-price medicine shop at Siliguri hospital.
Source: TOI
Mamata wants Darjeeling to continue as part of West Bengal
KOLKATA: At a time when Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) leadership is holding demonstration in New Delhi demanding a separate state for the Gorkhas in Darjeeling, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee told a crowd in Darjeeling on Tuesday that she wanted the Hill Queen to remain a part and parcel of the state.
But a section of GJM activists shown placards and posters to the chief minister demanding a separate Gorkha state which had undoubtedly irked the chief minister.
"I frequently visit Darjeeling and come yo you not because I want to capture this region politically. I come here to keep Darjeeling with us (read West Bengal) for ever. I want people of Darjeeling live in peace and prosperity and once the infrastructure here is developed, no tourist will go elsewhere than visiting your home town," the chief minister told a crowd which had gathered at the Mall in Darjeeling on Tuesday afternoon.
The chief minister also inaugurated the " Uttarbanga Utsav" (north Bengal festival) in Darjeeling. On Monday, she had inaugurated the same at Siliguri town. The chief minister also assured that her government will set up a permanent helipad in Darjeeling and also try to construct an airport for better convenience of the tourists.
"My government has already sanctioned Rs 117 crore for the beautification of Darjeeling. Our government will also bear cost of Rs 80 crore for renovation of the national highway which connects Darjeeling with the planes of Bengal. The district magistrate was telling me that Darjeeling might hold top position as far as implementation of 100 days work is concerned. The Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) Sabha is working here for the development of Darjeeling. Still our government is trying its best to help the GTA Sabha to work for Darjeeling's development," the chief minister told the crowd.
Interestingly, a section of GJM activists displayed placards demanding a separate state for the Gorkhas immediately after the chief minister finished her speech. The placards and posters were shown to the chief minister in presence of the GJM president Bimal Gurung.
Gurung is camping in Darjeeling while other GJM leaders like Roshan Giri and three GJM MLAs have been staying in Delhi to mount pressure on the Centre to accept their demand for a separate state. It is learnt that Giri and three GJM MLAs will hold talks with the BJP leadership in Delhi regarding their demand for a separate state.
Chief minister, however, reacted sharply as GJM activists displayed placards at her demanding a separate Gorkha state.
"This is a government function. Neither this is our party programme nor yours. You may have your demand for a separate state. You may raise political slogans and that is your prerogative. But this is not the right platform to raise your demand. Please don't do anything which could send a wrong signal to the people of our state and harm your interests," visibly angry chief minister told the crowd.
This is for the first time in her recent trips to the Hills that GJM activists showed placards to her and raised the demand for a separate state.
But a section of GJM activists shown placards and posters to the chief minister demanding a separate Gorkha state which had undoubtedly irked the chief minister.
"I frequently visit Darjeeling and come yo you not because I want to capture this region politically. I come here to keep Darjeeling with us (read West Bengal) for ever. I want people of Darjeeling live in peace and prosperity and once the infrastructure here is developed, no tourist will go elsewhere than visiting your home town," the chief minister told a crowd which had gathered at the Mall in Darjeeling on Tuesday afternoon.
The chief minister also inaugurated the " Uttarbanga Utsav" (north Bengal festival) in Darjeeling. On Monday, she had inaugurated the same at Siliguri town. The chief minister also assured that her government will set up a permanent helipad in Darjeeling and also try to construct an airport for better convenience of the tourists.
"My government has already sanctioned Rs 117 crore for the beautification of Darjeeling. Our government will also bear cost of Rs 80 crore for renovation of the national highway which connects Darjeeling with the planes of Bengal. The district magistrate was telling me that Darjeeling might hold top position as far as implementation of 100 days work is concerned. The Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) Sabha is working here for the development of Darjeeling. Still our government is trying its best to help the GTA Sabha to work for Darjeeling's development," the chief minister told the crowd.
Interestingly, a section of GJM activists displayed placards demanding a separate state for the Gorkhas immediately after the chief minister finished her speech. The placards and posters were shown to the chief minister in presence of the GJM president Bimal Gurung.
Gurung is camping in Darjeeling while other GJM leaders like Roshan Giri and three GJM MLAs have been staying in Delhi to mount pressure on the Centre to accept their demand for a separate state. It is learnt that Giri and three GJM MLAs will hold talks with the BJP leadership in Delhi regarding their demand for a separate state.
Chief minister, however, reacted sharply as GJM activists displayed placards at her demanding a separate Gorkha state.
"This is a government function. Neither this is our party programme nor yours. You may have your demand for a separate state. You may raise political slogans and that is your prerogative. But this is not the right platform to raise your demand. Please don't do anything which could send a wrong signal to the people of our state and harm your interests," visibly angry chief minister told the crowd.
This is for the first time in her recent trips to the Hills that GJM activists showed placards to her and raised the demand for a separate state.
Source: ET
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