CM confident that meet with three MLAs will go a long way in thawing Hill stalemate

SNS, Siliguri, 22 October 2013: The chief minister, Miss Mamata Banerjee appears confident that her proposed meeting with the three GJMM MLAs from the Darjeeling Hills slated in Darjeeling on 25 October would go a long way in thawing the Hill stalemate. 

“I have given them time on 25 October. I am hopeful about the meeting,” she said at Bagdogra airport today. 

The chief minister arrived in Siliguri this evening, beginning her five-day Siliguri and Darjeeling Hill trip. 

She is scheduled to meet the members of the Lepcha Development Board in Kurseong tomorrow. Besides, she would address her first ever political meeting in Darjeeling on 24 October since she became the chief minister in 2011. 

“I have some programmes in the Hills beginning from tomorrow. I hope these would be positive,” she added. Expressing satisfaction over the launching of evening/ night flight operation through Bagdogra airport, the chief minister, who had arrived on an evening flight, said several other evening/ night flights would become operational in the coming days. 

“It is my first Siliguri visit since the evening/ night flight operation was launched from Bagdogra airport. Indigo may start the night flight operation in November,” she added. 

The private airline Spice Jet introduced its night flight operation from here from 1 October. 

From the airport, Miss Banerjee drove straight to North Bengal University on the outskirts of the town to meet the administrative and police officials from North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur districts and also from those of Darjeeling district. 

The meeting was held at Rabindra Vanu Mancha in the premises of the varsity. The chief minister is also likely to attend another government programme at Matigara on 26 October before leaving for Kolkata. 

The north Bengal development minister and Darjeeling district Trinamul Congress president, Mr Goutam Deb, said the chief minister might announce a host of educational projects for Siliguri and its adjoining areas.