Mamata objects to withdrawal of Central forces from Darjeeling hills

Criticising the Centre for withdrawal of forces from Darjeeling hills, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday that she had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Terming it (withdrawal of forces) as “politically and administratively a bad decision,” she said it was unfortunate that the move came at a time when normalcy was returning to the hills.

“I have written to both the Prime Minister and Home Minister, asking them not to withdraw the forces. The decision was unfortunate, unethical, undemocratic and unconstitutional,” she told newspersons at the State Secretariat. According to Banerjee, the Home Ministry had said 10 out of 15 companies of the paramilitary forces would be withdrawn on October 16. It was only after the State objected, the Centre decided to initially withdraw seven companies.