Matigara, April 7: Deepa Das Munshi
today launched a broadside at the Bengal chief minister, saying the GTA
Sabha couldn’t function properly because of the state government’s
interference in the running of the hill body.
The Raiganj MP and
the Union minister of state for urban development was echoing the views
of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha while speaking at a party workers’ meet
at Matigara near here.
“The state
government and the chief minister have repeatedly interfered in the
affairs of the GTA Sabha. They (GTA representatives) could not function
properly because of such interference and so, they approached us seeking
our (Congress) intervention. We have helped them meet Union ministers
and officials of the home, finance and power departments at the Centre
to ensure that the hill body works smoothly without any hindrance,” said
Deepa, a known Mamata Banerjee-baiter.
She iterated that
the Congress didn’t want the division of Bengal and took swipe at the
chief minister for her alleged empty promises.
“The Congress
doesn’t want to divide Bengal and is sincerely interested in seeing that
development process is expedited in the Darjeeling hills. We want
development, not Switzerland, which is one of the several commitments
made by the chief minister, which eventually have fallen blank. Our
party is not keen on taking political advantage and is not interested in
the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat. There are allegations that I have an eye
on the Darjeeling seat but I want to clarify that my place is Raiganj
and I will continue to be there.”
After assuming
charge as the chief minister, Mamata had declared that she would turn
the hills into Switzerland. The Raiganj MP spoke about the Darjeeling
constituency as Trinamul had recently alleged that the Congress was
hobnobbing with the Morcha with an eye on the hill seat.
“We would like to
mention that it is not the Congress but Mamata herself, who has been
paying regular visits to the hills and making hollow promises. People
can easily understand which party or leader is going to the hills with
political intentions,” said the Union minister.
Deepa claimed that
the Centre was taking realistic approach towards the development of the
hills, pointing out today’s visit of Union minister for rural
development Jairam Ramesh to the region.
“We do not believe
in making empty promises but want to carry out development. Our
ministers are not keen on distributing utensils and secured land tenures
but want to implement projects and hold effective discussions which can
help the hills,” she said.
The state government’s delay in holding panchayat polls has also come under attack from Deepa.
“The chief
minister has instructed all BDOs (block development officers) of the
state to keep contact with her. We perceive it as a primary move to
delay or stall the rural polls. Now that the issue has moved to the high
court, the Congress has a clear idea of the intentions of Trinamul and
the chief minister. The pathetic results of the recent by-polls to three
Assembly seats, only one of which was bagged by Trinamul, has left the
party leaders worried. They are desperately trying to halt the panchayat
polls, fearing pathetic results,” Deepa said.
PCC president
Pradip Bhattacharya also scoffed at the state government on the hill
issue, particularly after the state’s decision to deploy CRPF in the
hills.
“One cannot
establish peace by deploying police and other armed forces (in the
hills). Buddhababu had taken this strategy and failed and the Congress
believes that by following the same strategy, things would only become
complicated,” Bhattacharya said.
“It is an issue of
identity crisis and the best way to restore peace is through talks. If
required, there can be 100 such talks to upkeep peace.”
Darjeeling district president Shankar Malakar and PCC leader Omprakash Mishtra were present at the meeting.
The Telegraph
Post a Comment
We love to hear from you! What's on your mind?