DARJEELING,: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today reaffirmed her party’s ongoing alliance with Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM).
Addressing the inauguration of the eight-day-long SARAS Mela at Chowrasta here, Mamata said, “I want Anit Thapa (BGPM chief) to grow in Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Our party adjustment with BGPM remains and we aim to preserve it. Some leaders come here every five years and disrupt peace in the hills, leading to strikes and affecting tourism. I do not want that, I want peace and development in the hills,” Mamata stated.
Referring to the previous MP election, Mamata pointed out that while her party fielded Gopal Lama, he did not win, partly due to disinformation and resource-based campaigning by opponents. “In the last MP election, we had fielded Gopal Lama as the candidate but he did not win as he does not lie. Nowadays, it seems it is about lies, fake news and narratives. Those who won has a lot of funds and they distribute it during time of elections but they do not do the same for drinking water, food or the GTA. They work only during the elections but I work the whole year round,” she added.
Political observers feel that though Mamata did not name the BJP, it was an indirect jibe at them. They also maintain that Mamata would continue to work with Thapa for peace in the Hills.
Speaking on the same lines, she said that there were a lot of things left to do in the Hills which, she said, should not stop. “There should be no disturbance in Darjeeling with some people working only for money or their own benefit. Do not sell your place. I want Darjeeling to be number one. We will work together till I am there and stay united,” she said, chanting the slogan “Jai Gorkha, Jai Bangla”.
The Bengal CM claimed that in a period of 11-12 years, about Rs. 11,000 crore had been given to Darjeeling and Kalimpong district by the State government with another Rs. 1,500 crore fund to the GTA during that period. She said that work of Rs. 4,000 crore was going on. To North Bengal, she said Rs. 1,64,000 crore had been given during that time frame.
Earlier in the morning, the CM named four recently-born red pandas and two snow leopards as part of the captivity breeding program of the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP). She named the four red pandas Victory, Dream, Pahadia and Hilly. She name the two snow leopards Charming and Darling. They were all born earlier this year during June and July.
Mamata, who will be leaving Darjeeling tomorrow, said that she will be returning to Darjeeling in January next year to celebrate the birth anniversary of Subash Chandra Bose. She said that the Melo Tea Fest to be organized by Darjeeling Police and GTA has also been shifted to January instead of December.