West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday said that his government has prepared a comprehensive roadmap for the development of north Bengal, including the Darjeeling Hills, and that the people of the state would benefit from the BJP’s “double-engine” government as all the Central welfare schemes would be implemented in the state.
Addressing a public meeting in Kurseong in Darjeeling district, his first visit to the Hills after becoming CM, Adhikari took a swipe at his predecessor, Mamata Banerjee, saying, “The former chief minister used to visit the hills only as a tourist. I have not come here as a tourist. I have come here to work. I will do what I say—that is my pledge.”
Assuring to fulfill all the promises made by the BJP for the hill districts, Adhikari said, “Everything will be implemented gradually. The Centre and the state government will work together on this. You can remain assured.”
The chief minister said his government was committed to inclusive development and would work to strengthen infrastructure, employment opportunities, and public services across north Bengal.
He reiterated the poll promise of withdrawing “all the false cases” filed during the previous TMC government against the Gorkha leaders.
The chief minister also warned of action against corruption in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), a statutory autonomous administrative body constituted for the governance and development of the Darjeeling region.
Referring to alleged irregularities in the recruitment of teachers by the GTA, he invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan: “Na khaunga, na khane dunga” (I will neither indulge in corruption nor allow others to do so). “All instances of corruption will be investigated. Nobody will be spared,” Adhikari said.
He said that recruitment of teachers and police personnel in the hill districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong would begin within the next few months and promised transparency.
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“Within the next few months, there will be major recruitment in the police department. Teachers will also be recruited, and the entire process will be conducted transparently… There will be no corruption in recruitment anymore,” he said, adding 33 per cent of the posts in the police will be reserved for women.
“During the previous government’s tenure, there was nothing but extortion, syndicate rule, and cut money… Corrupt people have stolen your money. They will be arrested. No one will be spared. The government will send those who looted you to jail,” the chief minister said.
He also said that from July 1, residents of hill districts would be able to avail of 125 days of work under the Centre’s VB-G RAM Gjob scheme.
All women in the hills will receive benefits under the Annapurna Yojana, and tribal people will receive special subsidies on ration and concessions on electricity bills, Adhikari said.
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“As long as jobs are not available, there will be schemes like the previous government’s Yuvashree, and they will be announced in the Budget,” he added.
“Although the Prime Minister launched the PM Tea Workers’ Scheme in 2021, it was not implemented because of corruption in the previous regime,” he claimed.
The chief minister said development projects worth Rs 334 crore for 25 closed tea gardens would be launched shortly.
He added that the chairman of the Tea Board had been entrusted with overseeing infrastructure development in tea garden areas.
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He also promised to set up a medical college in Kalimpong and expansion of sports infrastructure during his first visit to Kurseong after assuming office.
The meeting was attended by several ministers, including North Bengal Development Minister Nishith Pramanik, and MPs and MLAs from the region.
Leaders from several regional parties were also present, including Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung and general secretary Roshan Giri, GNLF president Mann Ghising, and BJP Darjeeling district president Sanjib Lama.
(With PTI inputs)
