Trinamool members on Friday created uproar in Parliament against Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s meeting with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leaders without informing West Bengal government, forcing brief adjournments of both Houses.
As soon as the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha met for the day, Trinamool members raised the issue displaying placards that read “Don’t Divide Darjeeling” and “Centre don’t do politics in Darjeeling”.
In the Lok Sabha, Trinamool member Sudip Bandopadhyaya raised the issue and alleged that a “deliberate, motivated” attempt was on to divide West Bengal.
“We apprehend that the Central government is also trying (along with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha) to play a role,” he said.
He said it was unfortunate that Mr Shinde was holding talks with GJM leaders when West Bengal Chief Minister was meeting people in Kalimpong along with senior officials.
Mr Bandopadhyaya sought to know how the Home Minister was holding the meeting when the Prime Minister had said no step will be taken without consulting West Bengal government.
Charging the Centre with continuously interfering in the affairs of the state, Mr Bandopadhyaya said this is hurting the federal structure.
Rubbishing demands of GJM for a separate state, he wondered as to how such a small area with just three Assembly seats can become a state carved out of West Bengal which has 294 Assembly seats.
“Jaswant Singh’s Lok Sabha constituency — Darjeeling — has three Assembly seats from the hills and four from the plains,” he said.
Earlier, when the House met for the day TC members trooped into the Well holding placards and shouting slogans against Mr Shinde. The placards said “Centre don’t do politics in Darjeeling“.
This led to brief adjournment of the House.
