Deb lashes out at BJP reps, Guv- a deep-rooted conspiracy being hitched to divide Bengal

SNS, SILIGURI, 23 JUNE 21 : Former tourism minister and the chairperson of the board of administrators at the Siliguri Municipal Corporation, Gautam Deb, today took a swipe at elected representatives of the BJP for voicing their support for a separate state or Union Territory for north Bengal. Mr Deb also called Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar a "political tourist" and said that he had turned Raj Bhawan into a "BJP branch office."

He also pointed out to the "failure" of BJP MPs in Darjeeling when it came to bringing about significant central projects.

"The elected MPs and MLAs of BJP are speaking in favour of division of the state. They are raising the demand for a UT, and that means change in the map of post-Independence Bengal. It is a sinister ploy to damage the pride of Bengal and Bengalis and a move to destabilize the state. After suffering huge defeat in the Assembly elections, the MPs and MLAs are parroting the demand for UT of the Centre. There have been attempts to destabilize and disturb peace of north Bengal, a deep-rooted conspiracy is being hitched to divide Bengal. I appeal to people of cross sections of society to unite against the conspiracy. We strongly condemn such divisive forces," Mr Deb said.

The senior Trinamul Congress leader further said that Mr Dhankhar was a "political tourist." The governor is on a week- long  visit to north Bengal at a time when some BJP MLAs and MPs have raised the demand for carving out a separate UT for the region.

"He visits as a political tourist and it is unfortunate that he has made Raj Bhawan a platform for discussions against the state government. He has turned it into a BJP branch office. The way the governor trains his guns at the government, ignoring Constitutional norms, is unfortunate and unexpected," Mr Deb said.

According to him, the seven BJP north Bengal MPs did not utilise their MPLAD funds.