West Bengal Governor M. K. Narayanan said in his address here on Thursday that the Trinamool Congress-led government in the State has restored peace in the Darjeeling hills, and described it as “a conspicuous success of the new government.”
Mr. Narayanan began his address to the West Bengal Assembly at the start of the Budget Session by mentioning two “significant achievements” of the Trinamool Congress-led government – “peace has been established in the hills after a long time” and “vastly improved” situation in the Maoist-affected Jangalmahal region.
In what may be construed as an indictment of the role of the previous Left Front government in handling the situation in the Hills, the Governor said that for a long time the rounds of tripartite discussions between the Centre, the State government and the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) had continued “in a sterile and unfruitful manner.”
Mr. Narayanan informed the House that Presidential assent for the Bill for the setting up of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) had been obtained and “the process to form the GTA will now begin.”
“Peace could ultimately be established in the hills after a long period. There is normalcy in public life and tourists are now going to the hills in huge numbers,” he said.
Commenting on the situation in the Jangalmahal region, Mr. Narayanan said “hardly any violence is seen” there now.
He listed the initiatives undertaken by the State government to restore peace in the region, including a revised surrender-and-rehabilitation scheme for Left-wing extremists following which 20 Maoists have surrendered.
In the course of his speech, Mr. Narayanan also said that “a number of pro-industry initiatives have been taken by the new State government” and that proposals for investment of about Rs. 80,000 crores have been received since it came to power.
“My government recognises the need for land for industries which are vital for employment generation and economic growth. For this purpose a land bank is being prepared,” he said.
