New Delhi: In its report to the home ministry on Darjeeling, the West Bengal government has expressed suspicion that some protesters may have links with militant groups in the Northeast.
This is also the stated position of chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
The report has not specified about details or evidence linking the agitators to militant outfits. The state government also blamed the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leadership for fomenting “unnecessary trouble’’ in the hill district.
The report says the GJM leadership is raising the issue, as elections to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, where Gorkha outfit is in a majority, are due in the next few months. Incidentally, the ruling Trinamul Congress is also trying to make inroads in Darjeeling and the adjoining hill districts.
The ministry officials said they will seek some more details as the report is not very comprehensive and mentions details till June 13 only. The state police has so far registered 24 cases in connection with the violence.
The GJM has declined the Centre’s offer of holding a tripartite dialogue with the state. Home minister Rajnath Singh has already spoken twice with the CM to find a solution.
Darjeeling is witnessing agitations for over 15 days, with residents demanding full statehood and protesting the state’s decision to introduce Bengali in schools in the region. On Sunday, home minister appealed to the protesters to have a dialogue “as violence would not provide any solution”.
