Mamata meets Rajnath, briefs on Darjeeling situation

Banerjee apprised him of the security situation in the hill district of Darjeeling and the steps taken by her government to bring back normalcy in the region.

New Delhi, Jul 25: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday briefed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh about the prevailing situation in Darjeeling, where normal life has been hit due to an ongoing strike over demands of a separate Gorkhaland state.

During the hour-long meeting at Singh's residence in the national capital, Banerjee also discussed the flood-like situation in West Bengal due to heavy rains. The chief minister was in the national capital to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Ram Nath Kovind as the 14th President.

During her meeting with Singh late in the evening, Banerjee apprised him of the security situation in the hill district of Darjeeling and the steps taken by her government to bring back normalcy in the region, an official privy to the meeting said.

The home minister assured Banerjee of full cooperation and asked her to take all necessary steps to restore normalcy in Darjeeling, the official said.

Darjeeling has been witnessing indefinite strike called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), demanding the separate state of Gorkhaland, since June 12.

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha today, Union Minister of State for Home, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said there was no proposal to constitute a committee to look into the separate state demand of the Gorkhas and others agitating in Darjeeling. Banerjee will leave for Kolkata tomorrrow.

PTI