Mamata Banerjee urges all to attend June 22 meet

Kolkata: Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee called for peace in Darjeeling and urged all parties and stakeholders to attend the all-party meeting called by the state government in Siliguri on June 22 in the wake of the unrest in the Darjeeling Hills for more than a week.

Ms Banerjee, while leaving for Hague, Netherlands, to attend the UN meet, told reporters at the city airport, “We appeal to everybody to maintain harmony.” She further said that she would not be able to be present at the meeting but has  given responsibility to her ministers and bureaucrats to attend it.

“The GJM should organise their political meetings and procession democratically without damaging government properties and injuring innocent people,” she said once again, reiterating that the Trinamul Congress government will not allow any unlawful activities and vandalism.

She also added that journalists are being intimidated and harassed in the hill areas by Gorkha leaders.

Interestingly, after the appeal of Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday for maintaining peace, there was no reports of any further violence in the Hills on Monday. However, the family members of those who have been allegedly killed in police firing on Saturday vowed to continue their fight for a separate state of Gorkhaland.

“Gorkhaland is our right and we will have it. His death will inspire other youth. We can starve but will continue our fight,” Aita Singh Thani, uncle of the deceased Sunil Rai, said. Sunil, a resident of Bijanbari area of Darjeeling, was a driver by profession. He is survived by his wife, a 10-month-old son and ailing parents.

Since June 8, after chief minister Mamata Banerjee held the Cabinet meeting in the Hills, there were reports of violent clashes between the police and the GJM supporters over the later’s demand of a separate state of Gorkhaland.