Today West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee went on the offensive and slammed the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) for the ongoing unrest in Darjeeling as protesters clashed with police forces in Singmari area of the city. Home Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh on Saturday spoke to WB Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to take stock of the violent situation. During the conversation between them, Mamata Banerjee apprised him about the measures taken by the state government of West Bengal to contain the violence.
Rajnath Singh asked Banerjee to take all measures to restore peace in the area where locals are protesting against the imposition of Bengali in schools. Currently, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) is in power in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. GJM has started an agitation demanding a separate state, Gorkhaland. Over the separate state demand, Darjeeling today witnessed huge clashes between GJM activists and the security force in which one local person was killed and more than 30 security personnel were injured, including an India Reserve Battalion (IRB) officer.
Rajnath Singh asked Mamata Banerjee to take all the possible steps to restore peace in the hill station area. People are protesting against “imposition” of Bengali in schools by making the Bengali language mandatory.
Army and police forces have been deployed in the area of Darjeeling to assist civil authority. Six columns continue to be deployed in that area. The WB Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “it is not like that what is we are observing today. It is a deep-rooted conspiracy. So many bombs and arms cannot be gathered in a single day. I am ready to sacrifice my political career and life also, but I will not allow anyone to divide Bengal”. According to Ms. Bannerjee, the GJM has connections with insurgent groups in the Northeastern region and some foreign countries.
Yesterday, the home ministry Mr. Singh had put on hold sending additional paramilitary personnel to the region of the hill station as no report on the ground situation had come from the West Bengal state government.
Ms. Banerjee said it was only an optional subject and it is not mandatory but GJM was spreading rumors to misguide the local people of the hilly region, referring to the agitation against the imposition of Bengali language in all the schools. On Saturday, meanwhile, the West Bengal govt, held a meeting with chairmen and vice-chairmen of fifteen development boards working in that area, which has already constituted a committee to appeal to maintain peace.
The chief minister Ms. Banerjee, other state ministers, the chief secretary and home secretary were present at the meeting. The Bengal government will hold an all-party meeting also in Siliguri on 22nd June to restore peace. CM Mamata Banerjee added, “I want peace to be restored in the hill station. The Tourism Minister Mr. Goutam Deb and PWD Minister Mr. Arup Biswas will take all the responsibilities and full care of the region.
