West Bengal Chief Minister says BJP is allowing the Darjeeling Hills to burn for sake of seat

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the centre of “conspiring to destablise” the state on Monday during a press conference the state secretariat in Kolkata after an all-party meeting on the Darjeeling situation.

Banerjee told the media that she has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh not to pull out central forces from Darjeeling hills.

The West Bengal CM has accused BJP's Darjeeling lawmaker and Union minister S S Ahluwalia of helping fugitive GJM supremo Bimal Gurung to create trouble in the region.

Banerjee added that “BJP is allowing the hills to burn for the sake of seat.”

She said, “BJP is talking to people who have cases under UAPA cases against them but not will to talk to people who are looking forward to resolve the issue.”

The West Bengal CM further added, "I wrote to the prime minister and home minister asking them not to withdraw the forces from the hills.”

She further added, “I hope we will receive a positive response.”

Banerjee further added, “If any untoward incidents happens in the hills, BJP-led Central government  will be responsible for it."

Also read| Darjeeling unrest: Sub-inspector shot dead as clashes erupt between Gorkha JanMukti Morcha and Police

She described the withdrawal of central forces from hills as unilateral and unfortunates.

Also read| Gorkhaland stir: BJP leaders take shelter in police station after attack in Darjeeling

Currently 15 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) popularly known as the paramilitary force are deployed in Darjeeling. The central government is planning to withdraw 10 companies out of the hills.