March 26, 2014
Development of Alipurduar is my priority: Trinamool Chairperson at Birpara
It was intended to be a workers` convention but it turned out to be a massive public rally. Trinamool Chairperson Ms. Mamata Banerjee`s meeting at Birpara saw a turnout in thousands, while people were waiting outside the enclosure where Didi was addressing the party workers. Attended by people of all communities, religions, castes and tribes, the meeting was a huge success.
Three leaders of a separatist group demanding Greater Coochbehar today gave up their demand for a separate state and joined Trinamool. A vocal supporter of United Bengal, Trinamool Chairperson slammed those who were hatching conspiracies to divide North Bengal into separate parts. She categorically said that every district in North Bengal has their distinct identity and should not be meddled with. She asked the separatists to pursue development agenda instead of playing politics of bloodshed.
Ms. Banerjee also informed the audience that the process of bifurcation of Jalpaiguri into Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri is in process. The bifurcation would speed up developmental and administrative work. She said decisions like these should remain with the State and the people should decide the fate of a State, not the Centre. Didi also demanded that States should be empowered and dictats of the Centre in every matter will not be tolerated.
Ms. Banerjee laid a lot of stress on the progress made in the field of education and health in Alipurduar. She highlighted that a college has been set up at Birpara and an ITI was being set up in every block. Every block would get a health centre, she added. She also said that the Adivasis living in Bengal now have the privilege of pursuing education in their own language.
The Chairperson also highlighted the initiatives taken by the West Bengal Government for the benefit of the tea garden workers. She said a Monitoring Committee has been formed for tea gardens that will immediately try to look into reopening locked out tea gardens. She said the welfare of tea garden workers was supreme on her mind. Incidentally, the Chief Minister today mediated in the reopening of Indong Tea Estate in Dooars, where 1127 workers have got their jobs back.
