Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday has challenged Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung to stop to her from entering the hill districts.
Addressing a public meet at Bhangor in South 24-Parganas district, she said, “Some people said they’ll not let me enter Darjeeling. But I did and will do it several times in future. No one can stop me from entering Darjeeling. Let them try to stop me.”
“I cannot be intimidated with threats and let’s see who has the guts to stop me from entering the Hills. We want peace and Bengal is our motherland. We love the hills. At any cost, we will not allow few people to disturb peace,” she said, while sending a message to the people of Hills, “You have nothing to worry. Your Didi is here".”
“Rath Yatra is approaching. Eid is around the corner. I extend my greetings to the people and request people to maintain peace and harmony across the state,” she said.
Banerjee’s reaction came after the partial indefinite strike called by GJM turned violent on Monday afternoon when an agitated mob set a PWD office on fire in Singamari.
They also tried to set BDO office at Phulbazar in Bijanbari block and another government office in Sukna on fire in Darjeeling district. Alert policemen deployed in the area chased the mob away.
On June 9, she had stayed back in Darjeeling to ensure safety of stranded tourists (due to bandh called by GJM). She also warned Gurung not to cross the ‘Lakshman Rekha’ as protests intensify in the Hills against the state government’s decision to make Bangla compulsory in government schools.
“He is cutting the branch he was sitting on. We will not tolerate this and stern action will be taken against all who are responsible for the current situation in the Hills,” she said.
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