September 2, 2013
We want peace in Darjeeling and I`m here with a peace message – Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal Chief minister Ms Mamata Banerjee talks to the press at Bagdogra Airport in North Bengal.
Excerpts from the speech:
“We want peace in Darjeeling and I`m here with a peace message. Let there be development in the region. Rs. 300 crore is lying unused. The hills would have seen a lot of development had the money been utilized. Schools, colleges, roads and many more developmental work is incomplete and stalled.
Asking the people to remain indoors is nothing but a shutdown call. They are obstructing the development in the hills. Bandhs do not do any good. It is not fair. It is an impediment to Darjeeling`s development.
Whatever is happening in the hills, common people are becoming the victims. Even the poor people are not getting their ration and food. People are not able to go to the hospital as the cars (carrying patients) are being burnt. The worst sufferers are the children and the students who could have had bright futures but instead are having to lose out on academic years.
Politics should not be linked to development activity. We love all democratic movements. We respect all democratic set-ups. We respect the Constitution. We run the government as per the Constitution. Every six months if anybody wants to break to constitutional obligation it cannot be supported.
They have food at their houses and their kids are in foreign schools and they are depriving the poor people.
I will appeal we must not set our own house on fire as a result of external instigation.
Bengal will remain united.“
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