Bengal CM urges Nepal and Bangladesh to hold elections soon

Siliguri, Nov 25 (UNI) West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today urged neighbouring countries of Nepal and Bangladesh to dissolve their political issues and hold their elections as soon as possible.

Addressing the 19th State Congress Meeting here, Mr Bhattacharjee said,''Nepal and Bangladesh are our neighbours. Any political unrest in these nations adversely affects North Bengal. We urge these two countries to sort out their political differnces and fix the dates for elections, so that we can be sure that we will no longer be affected by the unrest.

''The Maoists are no longer in the Nepal government, so it is time they considered sorting out the remaining issues and think of setting up a government as soon as possible,'' he added.

Speaking on the issue of the dispute relating to Gorkha land, Mr Bhattacharjee said, ''Darjeeling is a part of West Bengal. We will not entertain any demands for its separation from the rest of the state.

''We will not give in to the demands of Bimal Gurung-led Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, the chief minister said, while adding, ''If Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council gets the Sixth Schedule status, it will enjoy all the benefits that comes with it.'' Subhas Ghising-led Gorkha National Liberation Front had earlier appealed for the Sixth Schedule status, which had long been opposed by a section of the people.

He also added that the administration should maintain restraint regarding the claim for Gorkhaland by a section of the people in this refiog.

Meanwhile, while accepting that the administration could have maintained more restraint and dealt with the Nandigram issue in a different manner, he reiterated that the people of the region were unable to comprehend the capacity of loss that will result by allowing the industry to be set up here.

While hinting at the recent violence that scalded Kolkata very recently, Mr Bhattacharjee said the incident was highly criticised by the people of the state and that was why the city stepped back into normalcy within 24 hours.

He also added that whoever was responsible for the menace will be punished in the due process.

UNI