Mamata blames Cong for being ‘partisan’- criticises central govt for stoking gorkhaland fire

SNS, Kolkata, 28 July 2013: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the Centre today for inviting GJMM general secretary Roshan Giri and some other leaders to Delhi for talks early last week , at a time when the Telengana issue had reached boiling point. 

Miss Banerjee posted in a social networking site: “I do not understand why the Union government is behaving in a partisan manner by calling three or four persons of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration to Delhi.” 

The call, she said, had come from “the highest office of a political party”. Taking strong exception to the Centre’s initiative, she wrote : “When Darjeeling is peaceful and according to a tripartite agreement (of which the Centre is a party), election was held and the GTA was formed and the development process is underway, why is Delhi making efforts to kickstart a fresh agitation to serve vested political interests. It is a matter of shame.” 

Before the last Lok Sabha poll, Telengana was announced by a political party (read the Congress). “Why is it now being brought out as an issue just before the Lok Sabha election ?'’ she asked. 

Asserting in no uncertain terms that Telengana cannot be compared with Darjeeling, she said : “When everything is settled, why is Delhi insisting on disrupting a peaceful situation and playing with fire? 

It is reported that Delhi has directed the GTA persons to go in for a separatist movement.” Yesterday, Miss Banerjee said in the state Assembly that the Centre was using some of its agencies to destabilise the elected state government. 

“Darjeeling is a part and parcel of our state. We are united and we will remain united. “Any conspiracy hatched by a political party and the Union government will be defeated by the people of Darjeeling and West Bengal,” the chief minister posted. 

She also stated, “I'm proud of Darjeeling. Lakhs of tourists are visiting Darjeeling and tour operators and hotels are flourishing with a growth in the economy. Darjeeling is smiling. Let me repeat again that we love Darjeeling. 

“We love West Bengal and we love our country. We will not allow anybody to divide and rule.”