Mamata Banerjee slams centre over grant of Union territory status to Darjeeling

KOLKATA: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has alleged that certain central ministers have promised Gorkha leaders that the Centre would grant Union Territory status to Darjeeling. These Union ministers have encouraged Gorkha Janamukti Morcha leaders to renew their movement for a separate state, she claimed and added that she would write a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to find out if any central minister has made any such promise to Gorkha leaders.

“A few days back, some Union minister had summoned one or two GJM leaders and advised them to organise a movement in Darjeeling by renewing their demand for a Gorkha state. These ministers had promised GJM leaders that the Centre will convert Darjeeling into a Union territory. GJM has now renewed their agitation in Darjeeling by citing the Centre’s move to accept the demand for a separate Telangana state. I feel some Congress ministers are trying to split India into several regions. I condemn it. Demand for a Telangana state is an old issue and Congress has picked it up just before the next parliamentary elections,” the chief minister told reporters at Writers’ Buildings on Wednesday.

Banerjee questioned the reported assurance of central ministers. “How can the Centre convert Darjeeling into its territory without consulting the state government,” she asked.