Chief minister Mamata Banerjee today iterated that she would keep
coming up to the hills in what appears to be an obvious effort to
challenge the hegemony of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, particularly given
that municipality and panchayat elections are due.
Speaking at the Himal-Terai-Dooars sports festival organised by the
police administration at the play ground of Goethals Memorial School
here, the chief minister said her visits to the hills were meant to
encourage the people, particularly youths, to think big.
"Why should you remain small, you become big... our government will
render all possible help and continue helping, and I will keep coming
(to the hills)," she said.
Mamata said her government had been carrying out development
activities in the hills even though her party was not in power at any
level in the hills.
"The municipalities are not in my hands. The GTA is not in my hands
either. Had they been with me, I could have done little things that you
all desire," she said, in an oblique criticism of the Morcha, which is
in power at the GTA and all four hill municipalities - Darjeeling,
Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik.
The chief minister said she would be in the hills next month in
connection with the formation of the Kalimpong district. "Kalimpong has
become a district. Mirik has become a subdivision. In this connection, I
will be coming to Kalimpong next month," said the chief minister.
She also acted on her promise by announcing three development boards
for Khas, Gurungs and hill-based minority groups that include Muslim,
Christian, Bengali and Hindi-speaking people. With these, the number of
boards in the hills has gone up to 15.
Trinamul Congress leaders in the hills said the frequent visit to the
hills by the chief minister would give a boost to the party in the run
up to the municipality and panchayat polls.
"Her popularity in the hills grows after every visit. She has been
initiating development works through various development boards. Like
she said today, the government has so far given about Rs 268 crore to
these boards. People are excited. We want the chief minister to increase
the frequency of her visit, particularly in view of the approaching
civic and panchayat elections," said a senior hill Trinamul leader.
Mamata, who arrived here yesterday, will attend the 121 birth
anniversary of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose at Chowrasta in Darjeeling
tomorrow.
She today laid the foundation for or inaugurated 34 projects spread
across north Bengal. The chief minister gave away Bango Ratna awards to
one person each from seven north Bengal districts.
The seven who received the Banga Ratna award were Kamalesh Sarkar
from Cooch Behar, Balram Hazra from Alipurduar, Kamala Kanta Roy from
Jalpaiguri, Samar Chakraborty from Darjeeling, Tapan Saha from North
Dinajpur, Dr Anmol Chandra Roy from South Dinajpur and Shakti Podho
Padro from Malda for excelling in different fields.
The awardees were given a plaque and Rs 1 lakh each.
The chief minister presented gifts, including bikes, television sets
and laptops to the winners of sports events held across north Bengal
earlier.(TT)
Post a Comment
We love to hear from you! What's on your mind?