In Darj, CM says ‘Joy Gorkha, Joy Bangla’ in push for unity
Times of India | 14 November 2024
12 Darjeeling/Kolkata: CM Mamata Banerjee, inaugurating the first Saras Mela in Darjeeling on Wednesday, exhorted her audience to raise the slogan "Joy Gorkha, Joy Bangla" and repeatedly emphasised the importance of unity, referring to her "blood ties" with Darjeeling.
She also announced that Trinamool Congress's political ties with the Anit Thapa-led Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) would continue.
The "blood ties" that she mentioned was through her nephew Avesh Banerjee's marriage with Kurseong resident Deepa Chettri in Kurseong last Dec.
"I have blood ties with you now, as my nephew married a daughter of Darjeeling," she told her audience. "We are together, we are united, we are one. I don't come for votes. I come to the Hills because I love the Hills. And I will continue to love the Hills.... I am only happy when Dooars-Tarai is happy. Let us together raise the slogan, ‘Joy Gorkha, Joy Bangla'," she added.
Beginning her address in Nepali, the CM said state govt had spent Rs 11,000 crore for Darjeeling and Kalimpong in the last 12 years, with GTA receiving Rs 1,500 crore. Another Rs 4,000 crore of work was underway, she added, saying govt had sent Rs 1.6 lakh crore for north Bengal in the last 13 years.
Banerjee also attacked BJP, alleging money had been distributed to ensure a BJP victory in the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat in polls held earlier this year (referring to Raju Bista's win over TMC's Gopal Lama). She added that a "section of people" resorted to fake news and violence to stoke tension. "Do not sell Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Mirik for money. Take them forward," she told the crowd.
"Centre promises a lot but does nothing. It releases no money," she said. "We nominated Gopal Lama from here, but how could he win? He could not resort to fake news or fake narratives. The person who won from here has a lot of money, which he distributed. But he has no money to get you admitted to hospital, for Kanyashree or for GTA. In five years, he works for one day. We work all year for you."
In an oblique reference to Bimal Gurung-led GJM, she said: "Every five years, someone here fires bullets and hurls bombs. The hotels shut, shops close and tourists stay away. I do not want all this. I want peace and development."
The CM also promised to take action against those who peddle "fake Darjeeling tea". She said govt had taken several steps for tea workers. "In the Hills, I gave 54,000 pattas to workers. We will give Rs 1.2 lakh along with it so that the beneficiaries can build their own homes," she added.
Govt had spent Rs 14 crore in the Hills to promote homestays in the region, she told the audience, saying Lamahatta had been developed as a "home stay model".