West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday blamed the Congress-led UPA government’s decision to grant a separate Telengana state for the fresh turmoil in the Hills. Apparently angered by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung’s decision to quit the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and impose an indefinite bandh in the Hills from Saturday, Ms Banerjee made it clear that her government would handle the situation in Darjeeling with firm hands.
She pointed out that it was also the duty of the Centre to ensure that peace in the Hills was not disturbed.
She slammed both the GJM leadership and the UPA government for the brewing crisis in Darjeeling. Claiming that Darjeeling was an integral part of West Bengal, Ms Banerjee reiterated her resolve that she would never allow the division of the state. Levelling a serious charge against the Congress, she said it deliberately fuelled the Gorkhaland agitation. “ Bimal Gurung’s party leaders were taken to Delhi and their meetings were arranged with senior members of the UPA government. When they returned to the state the GJM leaders reported that they were told to revive their Gorkhaland movement with the promise that it would be granted a Union Territory status.