We don’t believe in division but unity of masses: Mamata

Expressing concern over the growing intolerance in the society, East-Indian state West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said her government was not in favor of division of masses but unity of the people.

Someone calls God, someone Allah and someone Bhagwan, but the purpose is the same," said Banerjee.

"Bengal is a pilgrimage of secularism and brotherhood in the country. We all love to live in peace. We will not tolerate any kind of violence here," Banerjee said.

The Chief Minister had earlier also expressed concern over intolerance and called for unity.

The CM on her 4-day visit to North Bengal, addressed a public rally on Wednesday at Malbazar (Jalpaiguri district) and launched the ‘Sabuj Sathi’ scheme in the district. Under this scheme 40 lakh students in the State will receive bicycles.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated a slew of projects for Jalpaiguri district including Farmers’ mart at Belakoba, Mal and Maynaguri, Tourist lodge at West Damdim, Neora and Mangalbari, Plastic cluster at Dabgram, new sub-station at Gajaldoba, Pather Sathi and helipad at Chalsa, tourist assistance centres, girls’ hostel, public health check up centre, workshop of NBSTC at Matigara.

She also laid the foundation stone for the development of Rabindra Bhavan at Jalpaiguri, new sub-station at Jalpaiguri Sadar, Karma Tirtha and Eco Park at Matiyali block, food go-down at Belakoba, piped drinking water projects  for Maynaguri, Dhupguri and Matiyali blocks, Hindi high school at Matiyali block, Karma Tirtha at Ambari-Flakata, Adivasi Bhavan at Matiyali block, boys’ hostel at Matiyali block.

Apart from that she also distributed benefits under various schemes like Kanyashree, Nijo Bhumi Nijo Griha, agricultural pattas, grants to farmers for purchasing equipment, training and tools to artisans among others.

Reiterating what she said in Alipurduar on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said that the state government would take over tea gardens if their owners failed to operate them properly.

“Those who are running the tea gardens properly, we will help them. But those tea garden owners, who are closing their tea gardens all of a sudden and without even giving back the provident fund money to the employees, are not doing the right thing,” the Chief Minister said.

She said the state government would take over the closed tea garden in that eventuality and give it to someone else through management system, Banerjee said addresssing a programme.

The Chief minister said she had ordered resumption of drinking water and electricity supply to the closed tea gardens.

The state government has ordered a CID probe into the alleged non-payment of wages to workers at the Bagrakot tea garden of Duncan Industries in North Bengal.