Will resolve identity issue of Gorkhas: CM

Amitava BAnerjee | MP | 5 April 2019 | Darjeeling: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Friday stated that she will resolve the identity issue of the Gorkhas and work out a permanent solution. On a campaign tour of North Bengal, Banerjee preached the mantra of unity at Naxalbari in Darjeeling.

Flanked by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president Binay Tamang, TMC candidate Amar Singh Rai and TMC leader Goutam Deb along with tribal leaders and tea garden workers, Banerjee stated: "We are together- Hill and plains. This is India. This is Bengal. Here Bengalis, Gorkhas, Adivasis and minorities are all one. There is no difference."

The Chief Minister said BJP is the root cause of all unrest. "We placate the Hills while BJP fans communal fire. Even CPI(M) and Congress follow suit. There is full understanding between BJP, Congress and CPI(M) in Bengal," alleged Banerjee.

She stated that TMC does not want clashes, murder, unrest and political strife. "We want peace and development. We want to work together. We want schools, hospitals, roads and tea gardens to be opened," Banerjee said.

The TMC supremo also expressed her gratitude towards the GJM. "We are together. We have fielded a son of the soil- Amar Singh Rai. We need someone to stand by the people through thick and thin, not someone who always runs away to Delhi."

Banerjee stated that the 2019 election is very important. "You have to throw out the BJP government from Delhi. They have fooled you. During the last general election and election campaign in North Bengal, Narendra Modi had clearly stated that if voted to power the Union government would take over and run all the locked out tea gardens of Terai and Dooars. Not a single one has been taken over," she added.

The TMC supremo alleged that Modi has also hoodwinked the Gorkhas. "During a campaign in 2014, Narendra Modi had assured that if voted to power, he would carve out Gorkhaland. Forget Gorkhaland, they did not give a central university to the Hills either," stated Banerjee.

The state government on the other hand has sanctioned a university in the Hills. Banerjee stated that despite the Assembly segments of the Darjeeling Parliamentary constituency including Matigarah-Naxalbari, Phansidewa, Siliguri having Congress and Left Front MLAs, she has never been deterred from carrying out development activities.

"We have provided rations, free health care, free education and drinking water in closed tea gardens as well. I come every month so that you all don't feel neglected," she said to the people.

Banerjee then announced a host of schemes and development activities of her government. "We will also work out a permanent solution for the Gorkha identity issue," assured Mamata Banerjee.

Without naming anyone, Banerjee alleged that the loot amassed during demonetisation is now being spent during elections. She gave a clarion call to the people, urging them to vote sensibly to oust the Modi government from power.