In an apparent move to take the pro-Gorkhaland Gorkha Janmukti Morcha by its horns, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is visiting Darjeeling early next month.
The Chief Minister who earlier wrote on the Facebook later confirmed to the journalists that she would be visiting Darjeeling in the first week of September to attend a function of the lepcha community — the second largest population and the original inhabitants of the Hills.
“The lepcha brothers and sisters have invited me to attend a programme,” Banerjee said, adding she wanted to see Darjeeling as a dream destination which will bring growth and prosperity for the people.
On the ongoing movement for a separate Gorkhaland she said she was “proud of my Darjeeling brothers and sisters but it is unfortunate that instead of developmental works that political party (GJM) has resorted to stalling the developmental process” of the Hills.
“Why this political pollution” she wondered, adding “politics is fine but it should facilitate development.”The Chief Minister’s cultivating of the lepcha community which do not enjoy good equations with the Gorkhas is seen as a ploy to up the pressure on the GJM, experts said.
At another level, the elements tended to bring about a temporary truce between the Bengal Government and GJM with both the parties joining hands to take on a common adversary.
The police and the locals including GJM activists on Tuesday joined in rescue works in many places in Darjeeling after a violent thunderstorm swept through the mountains on Monday night leaving many houses damaged, trees uprooted electric supply snapped. “This is their duty for which they are paid for,” said Roshan Giri when asked to comment on the relief work done by the police administration.