‘Strong-arm tactics may prove to be counter productive’
The political leadership in state reacted sharply to the aggressive posture adopted by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday and said that strong arm tactics may prove to be counter productive.
The political leadership in state reacted sharply to the aggressive posture adopted by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday and said that strong arm tactics may prove to be counter productive. Leaders from cutting across the party lines favoured dialogues and discussion for conflict resolution and said hardline stand may further deteriorate the situation in the hills.
State Congress chief Pradip Bhattacharya,said that the chief minister was committing a mistake by adopting a tough stand. He also protested against Banerjee’s statement that the central government was using a “divide and rule” policy in the hills. “It is a blatant lie and a distortion,” said Bhattacharya.
Banerjee had earlier in the day accused the Centre of indulging in a divide and rule policy with regard to Darjeeling saying politics shouldn’t be played for the sake of one Lok Sabha seat in the hills. Bhattacharya refuting the charge said both the Centre and the state are signatories to the tripartite accord in August 2011 for the formation of the GTA. “People in different parts of the country have different aspirations and the government will have to deal with them patiently. Use of force may not be the answer,” he said. The CPM leaders too,criticised Banerjee. Ashok Bhattacharya,a former CPM minister who held charge of Darjeeling on behalf of the party,said that the Trinamool Congress government should show restraint while dealing with the Gorkha leaders. “The separate statehood demand is an emotive one for the people of the hills. Use of force to crush a democratic movement may backfire,” he said.
Cable TV service restored partially
Immediately after a press conference in which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee set 72-hour deadline for GJM to withdraw its indefinite bandh,the Darjeeling administration restored the cable TV network in the area. The service was blocked citing lack of required paperwork on part of the cable operators. Ramesh Pradhan,owner of Milkiway Cable TV network,said,“We furnished our documents. The administration told us to air all the channels barring three local channels.” Sources said,the cable operators have been asked by the administration not to air any local news items.
Gurung meets school,College principals
GJM chief Bimal Gurung Saturday met principals of around 40 schools and 10 colleges and members of the Darjeeling hotelier’s association where he said the indefinite strike will continue. He assured the authorities that the Morcha would provide support to the students who need vehicles to leave Darjeeling. Father Santy Mathew,Rector and principal of St Joseph’s Convent,North Point,said,“Of the total 550 boarders,150 have already been sent to their houses. However,others,who mostly hail from foreign countries,are still there as their parents could not arrange them visas.”
Top GJM leader held in darjeeling
Top GJM leader Narayan Pradhan – president of GJM Darjeeling Town Committee – was arrested Saturday in connection with cases of arson and attempt to murder,police said. Meanwhile,Darjeeling Superintendent of Police Kunal Agarwal said the GJM supporters against whom there were arrest warrants would be apprehended immediately. “We have started patrolling the area as a measure of area domination. All the GJM supporters against whom there are arrest warrants will be arrested,” he said.
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