Will take strong steps: Deb - Minister criticises local MP role in crisis

TT, Siliguri, June 15: Bengal tourism minister Gautam Deb today reaffirmed that the government would take stern steps to prevent any deterioration of law and order in the hills.

"Whatever is happening across the Darjeeling hills is undesirable. The state is reviewing the present state of affairs in the hills. Police are taking strong steps to control any attempt to create a volatile situation for residents and tourists," Deb said in Siliguri today.

Sources said the minister also spoke with officials of the tourism and transport departments to know about the problems faced by those visitors who had chosen to stay back in the hills and the availability of vehicles.

"The government is making efforts to bring back (to the plains) all tourists who are still there in the hills," Deb said.

The situation in the Darjeeling hills, already reeling from an infinite agitation called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, turned worse today after the police raided Bimal Gurung's office. Suspected Morcha supporters torched government property and vandalised some.

Deb, the Trinamul president in Darjeeling district, also criticised the role of local MP S.S. Ahluwalia of the BJP, an ally of the Morcha.

"It is very unfortunate that whenever there is a crisis in hills, right from natural calamities to violence, we never find the MP around. Bimal Gurung and his aides have turned the peaceful hills into a tensed area but the residents are yet to get the MP on their side. There has been no visible initiative from his end to restore normality," the minister said.

Repeated calls to Ahluwalia went unanswered.