State govt to supply food, restore PDS during bandh

SNS, 11 August 2013: With the indefinite shutdown call by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) over the demand of Gorkhaland which has paralysed the Darjeeling Hills, the state government will supply food and will restore the public distribution system (PDS). 

The north Bengal development minister, Mr Gautam Deb, said he would visit the outskirts of three Hill sub-divisions ~ Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong since the people have been suffering due to the indefinite bandh across the Hills. 

“We are aware that the people living in the remote areas of the Hills have been suffering because of the bandh. The leaders who have called the bandh have already stocked the food. They do not have any problem as a result of the bandh. 

But the common people are the worst sufferers. Under this circumstance, we cannot sit idle and so we will supply food grains to the people of the Hills. 

The food department officials will visit and the restore the PDS,” Mr Deb said today in Siliguri. Mr Deb said he would visit remote places of the Hills today. The minister said the government was aware about the intelligence reports over the situation in the Hills. 

“We are aware about his. But the Central government is not performing its duty in this regard. A section of central ministers is inciting the GJMM for narrow politics. However, we would not allow any separate statehood demands whether in the Plains or Hills," Mr Deb said. 

Talking about the GJMM chief Mr Bimal Gurung’s claim that the party had played an important role over Mr Deb’s win in the Assembly elections, he said it was a baseless statement.