CM MAMATA HITS THE HILLS....ON HER FIVE-DAYTRIPTO N BENGALTO HOLD MEETINGS. LAY FOUNDATION STONES

SNS, Bagdogra, 27 March 2017: The chief minister Mamata Banerjee arrived in Bagdogra airport today and left for Jalpaiguri to attend her official programme.

She is on her five-day tour to the northern parts of north Bengal.

Miss Banerjee held a meeting with the Tribal Advisory Development Council in Jalpaiguri. She will also hold an administrative meeting there tomorrow following which she will address a meeting on the private nursing homes and also address a government programme, where she is likely to inaugurate and lay foundation stones of some projects. The CM will also hold an administrative meet with the Darjeeling and Kalimpong district administrations at Pintail Village in Siliguri on 29 March. She will announce Mirik as a new sub division of Darjeeling district on 30 March and will return to Kolkata on 31 March.

When asked about the Supreme Court's observation that Aadhar card could not be made mandatory for welfare schemes, Miss Banerjee refused to comment at the airport.

Around 100 people belonging to different communities thronged at the Bagdogra airport and at the road connecting the same in their traditional attire to welcome Miss Banerjee.

The president of Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP) and chairman of Dooars Terai Adivasi Task Force, Birsa Tirkey, who was present at the airport along with senior ABAVP functionary Tej Kumar Toppo, said they wanted the task force should be transformed into Dooars Terai Adivasi Development Board. The members of Darjeeling Adivasi Mahasabha were also present at the airport. The organisation is demanding a separate Adivasi development board.

Meanwhile, the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) renewed the Gorkhaland demand. Buoyed by the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the party has geared up to raise the demand.

The party chief Bimal Gurung challenged chief minister Mamata Banerjee that even '100 visits' to the Hills would not help Trinamul Congress win the ensuing civic body polls, though many GJMM leaders have joined Trinamul Congress in the Hills last week.

Among them, former vice-chairperson of Kurseong municipality Kalpana Pradhan, former chairman of Mirik municipality L. B. Rai switched to Trinamul Congress.

Trinamul Chhatra Parishad (TAMP) won the students' union election at Bijanbari Degree College in Darjeeling by defeating GJMM backed Gorkha Janmukti Vidyarthi Morcha.

The announcement of Mirik sub division would also be a boost for the Trinamul Congress ahead of the polls, feels observers.