We will not tolerate any trouble in hills: Mamata

“Whenever there is an election, they talk of violence and bandhs. We will not tolerate this,” she said at a programme of Tamang development board. 

GJM chief Bimal Gurung said the Chief Minister stated that Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) was given Rs 400 crore by the state government. “Let her give the details of the amount by September 27. Failing which we will call a bandh on September 28,” he said.

Banerjee said that instead of working for development, they are indulging in politics. “We want peace in hills. We will not allow violence. Enough is enough. We must work for development. We have developed Lamahatta, Mirik, Tiger Hill, Lava Lolegaon. But they want to destroy it all by violence,” 

she said.

“We will not stop the process of development in the hills. We want people to get employment. We are here to address the issues of the hills. If the hills smile, we will smile,” she said.

Referring to her frequent visit to the hills which some Opposition parties had objected to, the Chief Minister expresses surprise why they are “angry” over her visits to the hills. “We never feel angry if they visit Siliguri,” she pointed out.

Political experts were of the view that as Banerjee had said that Panchayat and Municipal polls in the hills would be held shortly, Gurung had started flexing his muscles to scare the state government as a bandh before the pujas would hit economy of the hills very badly.

Banerjee said that bandh politics should stop in the hills as it would stall all the development projects. Praising the work done by Lepcha board she said that the board had worked for the development of the Lepchas and asked why the GTA hadn’t done anything. She said she wanted the hills to develop and youth to get employment. She made it clear that if the boards worked for the people then more assistance would be made available.

Banerjee reiterated that Kalimpong would be soon declared as a district once the judicial clearance was available. Once it becomes a district, more development will take place and there be more job opportunities. 

She said that medical and educational facilities had gone up in the hills in the past few years. There are fair price shops and Kalimpong is coming up as an educational hub.  “Work seriously and work for the people the state government will provide every assistance,” she said.