GJM's agitation 'unjustified', minister urges for call off

A West Bengal minister today said that the agitation in the Darjeeling hills by the GJM for a separate Gorkhaland state was 'unjustified, unreasonable and illegal' and appealed to the Gorkha Janmukti Morch to call if off 'forgetting bitterness'.

The bandh which is hurting the people in Darjeeling the most is unjustified, unreasonable and illegal," North Bengal Development minister Gautam Deb said here in Kurseong town in Darjeeling district.

"I appeal to you to call off the bandh. Let us walk in on a new path forgetting all bitterness and work for development of the hills through the Gorkha Territorial Administration," Deb said.

With the state government having rejected the GJM's demand for statehood, he urged the GJM to strengthen the hill council, Gorkha Territorial Administration, which was formed following tripartite agreement among the Centre, the state government and the GJM.

"The GTA should be kept alive," he said.

Stating that the continuing agitation in the hills had caused hardship to the people in Darjeeling, Deb urged them not be afraid and asked them not to support the agitation which was ruining the economy and tourism industry in the hills, the prime revenue earner for them.

"I urge the people in Darjeeling hills to come out of their fear psychosis, he said.

"Tourism in the hills have severely been affected by series of bandhs and other forms of agitation. Bookings valued at Rs 15 crore in both government accommodation and in private hotels have already been cancelled," he said.

Deb, who was here for food distribution in the hills by the state government, said it would continue at 20 to 22 places, including at Gorubathan and Pedong in Kalimpong subdivision.

He also said that efforts were being made to strengthen ration shops and health care.

He said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would visit Darjeeling in the first week of September.