Agreement
doesn't mean division of Bengal: Mamata
Monday July 18, 2011 08:37:07 PM,
IANS
|
Sukna (West Bengal): The Darjeeling tripartite accord would not lead to any division of
the state, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Monday,
accusing the Left Front and other opposition parties of playing
"divisive politics" on the issue.
"The state has not been divided. It is one and the same.
Darjeeling is an integral part of West Bengal. It is the heart of
the state and so are the other parts of the hills. The hills and
the plains will together march towards prosperity and
development," Banerjee said at the accord signing ceremony.
At a ceremony also attended by union Home Minister P. Chidambaram
at Pintail village in Kurseong sub-division of Darjeeling
district, a historic tripartite agreement on the Darjeeling hills
was signed between the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) and the West
Bengal and central governments.
At the core of the accord is the formation of a new autonomous,
elected Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA), a hill council
armed with more powers than its predecessor Darjeeling Gorkha Hill
Council (DGHC) formed in the late 1980s.
Countering criticism that the naming of the new hill development
council as Gorkhaland Territorial Administration could ultimately
lead to the formation of a separate state of Gorkhaland, Banerjee
said: "We have only changed 'Regional' into 'Territorial'. Nothing
else has changed."
"Those who are doing politics over names must keep quiet and let
the new government function. They did nothing during the 34 years
when they were on power," Banerjee said, referring to the Left
Front that ruled the state uninterruptedly from 1977 to May this
year.
Accusing political parties of playing divisive politics by seeking
to create a rift between the people in the hills and plains of
Darjeeling district, she said: "There have been many a politics to
divide the hills. Parties have plotted to create rift between the
peoples of the plains and that of the hills. We will never let
that happen.
"The hills and the plains will always remain together. Only when
the hills are fine will the plains be okay. Siliguri (the plains
sub-division of Darjeeling district) and (hills) of Darjeeling are
twin sisters."
Banerjee said the election of the representatives of the GTA would
be held within six months. The new autonomous agency would get all
help from the state and central governments.
She also said Darjeeling and other tourist attractions in the area
would return to their earlier glory. "Darjeeling will be the
Switzerland of India."
According to the chief minister, a host of projects, including
super specialty hospitals, multi-disciplinary colleges, research
centres, schools, cold storages and multi storey car parks, would
be set up under the auspices of the GTA.
|
|
|
|
|
Home |
Top of the Page |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top
Stories |

Suspect's
death: CID probe ordered
Police Sunday ordered an investigation
into the death of a young man who died of brain haemorrhage here
early Sunday after being detained for suspected links with the
July 13 bomb »
Suspect's death:
Neighbor alleges torture, police rubbish charges
RS MP warns against
harassment of innocent Muslims on probe pretext |
|
Most
Read |
India,
Pakistan firm up new cross-Kashmir CBMs
In their first contact after the
July 13 Mumbai terror attacks, Indian and Pakistani officials met
Monday to firm up new confidence-building measures to expand trade
and travel across the two
» |
Apex
court stays media wage revisions -- for now
The
Supreme Court Monday asked the central government not to implement
the recommendations of the National Wage Board for journalists and
other employees for the next two weeks.
The Board, headed by Justice G.R. Majithia, was set up in 2007. It
submitted its report Dec 31, 2010
»
|
|
News Pick |
Why India
can't feed its people, asks Canadian media
In this Year of India in Canada, India
is making news in the media here - not for the second highest
growth rate in the world but for its "absolute poverty'' and
failure to "feed its people
»
Redefining the Poverty Line
|
Government mulls curbs on junk food in schools
The
central government Monday admitted before the Delhi High Court
that junk food causes health hazards, including heart problem, and
said guidelines would be framed to serve good quality food in
schools and colleges.
»
|
Israeli
weapons used in Karachi unrest: Rehman Malik
The use of
Israeli-made weapons indicates "foreign hands" behind the Karachi
unrest, Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said. "Over 200 persons
have been arrested and Israeli-made weapons including AK-45, have
been
»
|
Golden
debuts in 1996 gave India teeth to fight overseas
India lost
the 1996 series in England 0-1, but the golden debuts of Sourav
Ganguly and Rahul Dravid at Lord's, which eagerly awaits the 100th
Test match between the two countries, changed the way world looked
at Indian cricket in the
»
|
|
Picture of the Day |
 |
Defence Minister of Mozambique Filipe
Jacinto Nyusi laying wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti, in New Delhi on
June 28, 2011.
(Photo:
Fulchand) |
|
|
|