‘Friendly ties for sake of Darjeeling’

DT;WEDNESDAY, 15 MAY;;Mamata with Bimal Gurung in Richmond Hill in Darjeeling on Tuesday Ahead of her meeting with the Gorkha Territorial Administration, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday that her government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha will have to maintain friendly ties as it was necessary for the development of Darjeeling Hills. “We (Bengal govt and GJM) have to maintain friendly ties as we will have to work together for the development of the hills,” Banerjee said on reaching Bagdogra airport here this afternoon on way to Darjeeling on a three-day visit. When asked further on the ties with GJM which had deteriorated earlier this year, she said, “We will hold discussions ... the people will see it for themselves.”

 Mamata assures all support to Darjeeling development Darjeeling:

 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday held a meeting with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president Bimal Gurung and assured all support of the state government for all-out development of Darjeeling Hills. "We want development of Darjeeling," she told reporters at the end of her meeting with Gurung. "I am happy to come to Darjeeling. We have cordial relations with GJM. It is a relation of love and good wishes," she said. The Chief Minister, who arrived here from Siliguri on a three-day visit said, her government was planning a package for tourism development covering Darjeeling, 

Terai and the Dooars region. Proposed tourist spots like Jorebungalow, Rohini and Takdah were being identified for development as potential tourism destination. Banerjee said, her government was also mooting an idea to set up a film city at Siliguri, which would open an opportunity for shooting films in Darjeeling. "Road development is a priority area and some roads are National Highways," she said. Ahead of her meeting with Gorkaland Territorial Administration (GTA) tomorrow, Banerjee told newsmen on reaching Bagdogra airport that her government and GJM will have to maintain friendly ties as it was necessary for the development of Darjeeling Hills.