WB : Mamata Banerjee urges Gorkhaland agitators to restore normalcy in the Hills

Darjeeling: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday appealed to all pro Gorkhaland forces to restore normalcy in the Hills. The indefinite bandh in the Hills hit the 48th day mark on Tuesday.

Addressing a Government programme in Chopra in North Dinajpur district of North Bengal, Banerjee stated 'I request all political parties to discuss the issue and normalize the situation by lifting the bandh. Peace needs to be restored. People are suffering. What is the use of creating disturbance, arson and vandalizing? No one stands to gain from such actions? '

The CMs appealed at the time when the Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee (GLMCC- a conglomeration of 13 political and



apolitical pro Gorkhaland organizations) were meeting in Delhi to chalk out the future course of action for the Gorkhaland agitation.

Banerjee stated that instead of playing with fire the leaders should work towards restoring peace in the Hills. Normalcy needs to be restored at the earliest. It is not the hill residents who are creating trouble. They are not at fault. There are outsiders who create trouble and then leave ' alleged the CM.

She said that there was no food in the Hills owing to the ongoing bandh; education, transport and tea gardens have come to a grinding halt. 'Political leaders need to work for the betterment of society and not for their own selfish gains' stated Banerjee.