Mamata calls for unity of hills and plains; focuses on development in north Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee calls for unity in Darjeeling hills, criticizes BJP during three-day visit.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is on a three-day visit to the Darjeeling hills. In a public address on Wednesday (November 13, 2024), she called for the unity of people of the hills and the plains amidst slogans of “Jay Gorkha, Jay Bangla” and called for people of both parts of Bengal to work together. 

This is Ms. Banerjee’s first visit to the hills in two years. She spoke at the inaugural event of the 7th SARAS (Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Society) Mela, a national event for local artisans to showcase their art and local women to sell their products. 

In her address, the Chief Minister said, “Just to make individual gains, do not sell out Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, and Mirik. It is important to take these places forward. I want to see all of you say ‘Jay Gorkha, Jay Bangla’. We will work together, there is no difference between us.” 

She was also seen participating in the cultural events organised by the locals of the area. She is on this tour with another Trinamool Congress MLA and the State Power Minister Aroop Biswas. She was welcomed to the hills by Anit Thapa, Chairman of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). Mr Thapa’s party Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha is an ally of the Trinamool in the hills. 

During the Lok Sabha elections and on other occasions her trips to the hills kept getting cancelled over the last two years. In the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaigns Mr. Thapa is said to have taken charge of the campaigns after the Chief Minister’s trip was cancelled. 

Ms. Banerjee spoke extensively about her plans for developments in the hills. She said that homestay businesses in the hills have excelled and called for more to improve development in the area. 

She also raised concerns about the Central Government not releasing money to the State and its schemes. She criticised the Bhartiya Janata Party and said: “They only come during the elections and take your votes. They make promises and never fulfil them. Our candidate did not win here in the Lok Sabha elections because he does not lie, he works.” She also accused the BJP leaders only work “one day in five years to get votes and we work 365 days.”