Darjeeling will remain part of Bengal till I’m around: Mamata

EOI, Darjeeling, 23 Jan 2014: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee today winded up her three-day tour of the hills by asserting Darjeeling would always remain a part of Bengal as long as she remained alive.

Speaking at a government function organied at Chowrastha to mark the 118th birth anniversary of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, the chief minister said, “Let one message go to the hills people. As long as I live, Bengal will remain home to several communities. Let us work in unity to make Darjeeling a better place.”

In the middle of her speech again, Banerjee asserted, “It is our right to be together. The people of Bengal love the hills and the world loves Darjeeling. I give my word that we will remain united and work together.”

The day’s function was held at the same venue as the one held on January 29 last year and the CM’s speech also bore a similar tone when she had averred Bengal would never be divided. It may be noted her address last year had created the foundation for a fresh round of unrest in the hills.

Apparently to drive home her point that Darjeeling was a part of Bengal, Banerjee said the day’s programme was organised by the information and cultural affairs department of the state government.

“No visitor used to come to Darjeeling earlier. The region was neglected. But when our government was formed, we thought that as Darjeeling is part of Bengal, why not organise Netaji’s birth anniversary programme here,” said Banerjee.

This was the first-ever official birth anniversary programme celebration of Netaji by the state government in the hills although district levels functions have been held regularly.

State government and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration officials along with a host of dignitaries, literary figures and tinsel town celebrities including Tollywood hunk Dev occupied the dais in Chowrastha. Netaji’s grandsons Sugata and Sumantra Bose were also present.

Sugata even rendered a song in Nepali that was written and composed by Captain Ramsingh Thakuri, who was a close aide of Netaji in the Indian National Army.
Banerjee heaped accolades on Netaji’s role in India’s achieving Independence while adding there could never be another Subash Chandra Bose. 

“His contribution in India’s achieving Independence is unparalleled. We must remember and honour such people. But it is sad that he never got the chance to come to the country. We do not even have proper information on whether he is dead or not,” she said. 

The chief minister also laid the foundation for the Aastha Hawkers’ Market to shortly come up on CR Das Road below Chowrastha. She promised to develop the hills and promote the region’s tourism sector.
“We need to ensure a lot of development, especially in the tourism sector, to boost the economy of the hills. I think we need to have three or four more Darjeeling,” she said.
After the function, the CM left for Sukna to retire for the day. 

Earlier during the event, GTA chief executive and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung delivered a short speech and welcomed the state government’s initiative to celebrate Netaji’s birth anniversary in the hills.

“I congratulate the chief minister for organising the birth anniversary celebrations of such a legendary revolutionary in Darjeeling. It is a historic occasion. I don’t want to talk much; I want to listen to what the chief minister has to say,” said Gurung. 

Popular Bengali singers Nachiketa Chakraborty, Indranil Sen and Soumitra Ray of Bhoomi band and prominent baul singer Kartik Das Baul enthralled the crowd with their songs. Ray, who had studied at St. Paul’s School here, even sang a popular Nepali song.