Rampant corruption in functioning of GTA will be probed: Bengal CM Adhikari

Kolkata, June 16 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Tuesday that there will be probe ordered into the rampant corruption involving the functioning of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), the autonomous body managing the civic affairs in the hills of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong in North Bengal.

The current GTA board is being run by Anit Thapa-founded Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), which is the hill ally of Trinamool Congress — the previous ruling party in the state.

While addressing a public programme at Kurseong on Tuesday afternoon, which was his first visit to the hills since taking charge as the ninth Chief Minister of West Bengal, CM Adhikari also announced that soon there will be recruitment for teachers in schools and police personnel for the hills.

“The Hills are the pride of not only West Bengal but the pride for the entire country. I have not come here for a leisure tour. I have to work here. I am preparing a specific roadmap on how to develop the hills. The people of the hills, over years, have sacrificed their lives to protect Mother India. I know what was the condition of the hills during the previous regime (Trinamool Congress government). Now you will see how the hills are developed,” the Chief Minister said.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Adhikari also launched a scathing attack against his predecessor and the previous Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her frequent tours to the hills.

“The previous Chief Minister was aware that she would not get the vote of the people of the hills. So, she chose the hills for her leisure trips and not for developing the region. The money of the people of the hills was looted by appointing administrators for the hill-based municipalities instead of holding elections there. A full-fledged investigation will be conducted into the corruption in the appointment of teachers in GTA. None of those involved in this corruption will be spared. They will be sent to jail. Our (BJP) government will run on the policy of zero tolerance towards corruption,” the Chief Minister added.

Regarding the false cases filed by the previous Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government during the Gorkhaland movement, CM Adhikari said that he had already ordered for the immediate withdrawal of all false cases in the matter.

He also promised a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives during the movement and a government job to one of the family members.

–IANS

src/khz