Situation in Darjeeling grave : Buddhadeb

Kolkata, Oct 21 (UNI) Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today described as grave the situation in Darjeeling and said the state government was keeping a strict vigil.

Talking to newsmen here, Mr Bhattacharjee said the district administration had been instructed to maintain law and order and called upon the people to thwart any attempt to create any disruptive activities.

Expressing concern over the chain of events in Darjeeling and the adjoining areas for the last couple of days, Mr Bhattacherjee said his government was taking strong exception to such acts like the changes of number plates of cars and putting up of signboards of Gorkhaland.

''Such activities will not be tolerated any more. It is an irony that the agitators are issuing dictats to people of the hills to wear clothes in line with their ideologies, violating the rule of law and the democratic atmosphere,'' he observed.

Mr Bhttacharjee mentioned that the tripartite discussion to solve the problem of Darjeeling was on and such agitation would hamper in finding the ways to solve the issue.

Specifying the sectors being affected by the ongoing agitation, the Chief Minister pointed out that Tourism and Education were the ''main victims'' of the prolonged unrest, coming in the way of economic development of the region.

He said besides Darjeeling, Siliguri, Terai and Dooars had been affected by the agitation and alleged that some vested interests of the plains were trying to create anarchy in the hills.

Mr Bhattacharjee made a fervent appeal to the people of the state not to be provoked by any quarter and maintain peace in the hills.

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