GJM President Bimal Gurung today dared West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to contest from one of the three assembly seats in the Darjeeling Hills on Trinamool Congress ticket "if she cared for the Hills so much."
"Mamataji often declares her love for the hills and its people. Since she loves the place so much, let she file nomination from one of the three assembly segments here and emerge winner as a TMC contestant," Gurung told reporters on the sidelines of a football tournament final at Sukhna, in the foothills of the Darjeeling Hills near here.
Mocking at Banerjee's promise to turn Darjeeling into Switzerland, Gurung said, "She has already made the Hills into barren land by her act in past four years."
Gurung took pot shots at Banerjee for forming development councils which, he alleged, were only aimed at creating divisions in different communities in the Hills.
"She can form 100 development councils. But what is her main objective? To create rift among us," Gurung said.
The GTA chief claimed Banerjee never intimated him before visiting the hills.
Gurung's outbursts followed Banerjee's comments on January 22 that she doesn't pay attention to those who speak ill of her and assertion to work for the people.
"Some people speak ill of me but I don't pay heed to them. I will continue to work for you always. I don't pay attention to hate-mongers. I just do my developmental work," Banerjee had stated at the concluding ceremony of Himal Terai Sports Festival 2016 held at North Point here.
"I have received several requests for setting up of development boards for various communities, we will consider them," Banerjee further said.
