Left fixes the responsibility of Centre in Darjeeling

Kolkata, Feb 8 (PTI) The ruling Left Front todayexpressed serious concerns at attempts to provoke "ethnicviolence" in the Darjeeling hills and put the onus ofmaintaining peace in the region on the Union government.

"There are attempts to instigate ethnic violence inDarjeeling hills which should be immediately diffused by theefforts of all concerned," Left Front chairman Biman Bose saidin a statement.

Asking the Centre to take the responsibility of returningpeace and harmony in the Darjeeling hills, Bose, also thestate CPI(M) secretary, said it is the primary job of the UPAgovernment to maintain law and order in the hills.

The Congress and the Trinamool should not shirk itsresponsibility, he said.

CPI(M) central committee member Mohammed Salim allegedthat fresh attempts has been made to instigate violence in theDarjeeling hills.

"It is unfortunate that there have been several attemptsto instigate violence in Darjeeling which has to be tackleddeftly," he said.

The state administration had to take action today toresist violent efforts by the GJM, he said adding that theLeft Front has asked all its workers to help diffuse tensionand work for peace in the hills.

The army was being deployed in violence-hit areas ofDarjeeling district after 2 persons were killed today when thepolice opened fire to stop Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supportersfrom taking out a march in adjacent Jalpaiguri districtdefying prohibitory orders, sparking arson by GJM workers whotorched government vehicles and offices.