Resume classes in schools, Partha tells Hill teachers

Amitava Banerjee | MP | 2 Jun 2017 | Darjeeling: Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee asked Hill education institutes to open up and teachers to take classes. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha had called for a two-day long bandh in all education institutes in the Hills on June 1 and 2 protesting against alleged imposition of Bengali language.

"Let good sense prevail. I appeal to all the teachers to attend classes. Wrong information should not be disseminated. Do not make matters complicated for yourselves," stated Chatterjee. He was in Siliguri on Friday to attend the 47th convocation ceremony of the North Bengal University.

Regarding the three language formulae, the Education minister preferred to tow the CM's line. "Whosoever is studying Nepali will continue to study Nepali. Whosoever is studying Hindi will study Hindi. They can, however, choose Bengali as a third language. They will not have to appear for any board examination for Bengali," reiterated Chatterjee.

The Education minister alleged that Gurung was politicising the issue to reap political dividends. "Bimal Gurung needs to create unrest and so he has chosen this issue to create unrest. He is misleading the Hill people," alleged Chatterjee.

Regarding the suo moto case initiated by the police against GJM leaders and representatives of education institutes and organisations, Chatterjee stated: "The administration and police will do their job. I have nothing to say about it."

In the absence of Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathy who is the Chancellor of the North Bengal University, the Vice-Chancellor Professor Somnath Ghosh was deputed the Governor to preside over the function.