Mamata lashes out at CPI(M) for fanning tension in the Hills

MP |  8 Aug 2017 | Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday lashed out at CPI(M) for fanning tensions in the Hills just for their vested interests. Chief Minister gave a statement in the state Assembly on Tuesday in connection with the situations in the Hills. Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay allowed one each from Congress and Left Front's parliamentary party to place their statements. Trinamool Congress MLAs protested against the statement of CPI(M) MLA from Siliguri Assembly Constituency Ashok Bhattacharya who attempted to hold the present state government responsible for the tension taking place in the Hills since June 8. In reply to Bhattacharya's statement, the Chief Minister said they (CPIM) know well how to utilise a situation for their own benefit. They are fanning the tension. "It is well known to Ashok Bhattacharya that it would not be possible for him to win in elections without their (Gorkha Janmukti Morcha) support," she said.

The Left Front MLAs walked out when the Chief Minister was giving a reply to Bhattacharya's comment. The Speaker criticised the move of the Left Front MLAs saying that it is not political courtesy to walk out of the House when the Chief Minister is replying to the issue raised by them. Banerjee thanked Congress MLA from Matigara-Naksalbari Assembly constituency Shankar Malakar for his responsible statement in this connection. Malakar said we don't want to do politics particularly on this issue for the sake of the unity of the country. "This is not the time for holding someone responsible for the ongoing disturbances in the Hills," he said.

In connection with the trouble in the Hills, the Chief Minister said strike for an indefinite period is going on since June 12. It is causing harassment of common people there. She said it is important to be united when external forces are active to divide the country. She said that on June 19, the driver of a Sufal Bangla vehicle was killed during the violence going on in the Hills. At the same time, public properties including 54 vehicles were damaged, several office buildings were ransacked and 93 tea gardens have closed. "Any violence is unfortunate and it is more unfortunate when it claims life," said Banerjee adding that an all party meeting headed by the Chief Secretary was called to find a solution so that peace reinstates in the Hills but the protestors did not attend the meeting. The problem can be settled in a democratic way through discussions, she maintained.