West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced her government's decision to withdraw over 100 cases against the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) activists and leaders initiated during their separatist movement.
On a three-day visit to Darjeeling hills, Banerjee during the day also launched the Rs. 500 crore 'Clean and Green Darjeeling' project under which 53,000 toilets will be built across the district.
"Our chief secretary and home secretary were in talks the GJM leadership on the issue. We have decided to withdraw 115 cases against the GJM leadership," said Banerjee in the presence of GJM senior leadership.
Most of these cases include law and order violations like holding road blockades and were clamped on GJM leaders before 2011.
The decision has come as a relief to the GJM leadership which has been indicted by the Central Bureau of Investigation for the murder of Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League leader Madan Tamang.
The Clean and Green Darjeeling is a joint initiative of the state government and the autonomous hill council, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) headed by GJM supremo Bimal Gurung.
"'Clean Darjeeling Green Darjeeling' will run on a mission mode to ensure clean living in Darjeeling with sanitation facilities in homes and community sanitary complexes, solid and liquid waste management, ban on plastic bags, cleaning of springs and roadside plantation," Banerjee said.
The project will encourage water conservation through rainwater harvesting in rural and urban areas along with green cultivation through afforestation, she said.
"This will also help in development of horticulture and medicinal plants that will also boost the local livelihood.
"It is our mission to restore the Queen of Hills Darjeeling to its pristine glory. It is our commitment to our future generation. West Bengal government and GTA are working together for that," added Banerjee.
