After Mamata gave district status to Kalimpong, people of Siliguri now want recognition as another district
KOLKATA: After the chief minister announced Kalimpong as a 21-st district of Bengal, demands are being raised from different quarters in Siliguri for getting recognition of district status for the largest north Bengal city. Already, the local people have set up Siliguri District Campaign Committee (SDCC) to fight for getting recognition of the city as another district.
Officials of the SDCC, on Friday met West Bengal governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi and demanded that Siliguri be declared as another district of the state.
"The governor has listened to our plea and assured us that he will take up the issue with the chief minister Mamata Banerjee," Shankar Malakar, Congress MLA from Matigara-Naxalbari and leader of the SDCC told ET after meeting the governor at Raj Bhavan on Friday.
Only on February 14, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had declared Kalimpong as the 21-st district of the state. After Kalimpong got the status of a district, demands are being raised from different quarters for recognition of Siliguri as a new district by the state government.
"The chief minister has given district status to Alipurduar by bifurcating the Jalpaiguri district. Last month, Kalimpong was declared as the 21-st district of our state. If Kalimpong can be treated as a new district why not Siliguri which has a population of more than ten lakhs," asked Malakar.
The Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pradip Bhattacharjee had also gone to Raj Bhavan along with local people of Siliguri. "We had invited Bhattacharjee to be with us and he had accompanied the delegation from Siliguri," said Malakar.
Arguing in favour of their demand for recognition of Siliguri as a new district, Malakar told ET that "there are three assemble segments under Siliguri town. The Bagdogra airport, North Bengal University, North Bengal Medical College and Hospital also fall under the administrative jurisdiction of Siliguri. If Kalimpong, with only Assembly seat, can get district status, we feel Siliguri has the right to demand for getting the same recognition."
"The chief minister has also set up a special police commissionerate for Siliguri. Like Kolkata, Siliguri also have the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC). Siliguri is the largest city in north Bengal and also the gateway to several North-Eastern states like Assam, and countries like Nepal and Bhutan. Siliguri is also the biggest trade centre of north Bengal. We think we have every right to get recognition as a new district. Moreover, no political party has opposed our move to fight for getting the district status," Malakar added.
Officials of the SDCC, on Friday met West Bengal governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi and demanded that Siliguri be declared as another district of the state.
"The governor has listened to our plea and assured us that he will take up the issue with the chief minister Mamata Banerjee," Shankar Malakar, Congress MLA from Matigara-Naxalbari and leader of the SDCC told ET after meeting the governor at Raj Bhavan on Friday.
Only on February 14, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had declared Kalimpong as the 21-st district of the state. After Kalimpong got the status of a district, demands are being raised from different quarters for recognition of Siliguri as a new district by the state government.
"The chief minister has given district status to Alipurduar by bifurcating the Jalpaiguri district. Last month, Kalimpong was declared as the 21-st district of our state. If Kalimpong can be treated as a new district why not Siliguri which has a population of more than ten lakhs," asked Malakar.
The Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pradip Bhattacharjee had also gone to Raj Bhavan along with local people of Siliguri. "We had invited Bhattacharjee to be with us and he had accompanied the delegation from Siliguri," said Malakar.
Arguing in favour of their demand for recognition of Siliguri as a new district, Malakar told ET that "there are three assemble segments under Siliguri town. The Bagdogra airport, North Bengal University, North Bengal Medical College and Hospital also fall under the administrative jurisdiction of Siliguri. If Kalimpong, with only Assembly seat, can get district status, we feel Siliguri has the right to demand for getting the same recognition."
"The chief minister has also set up a special police commissionerate for Siliguri. Like Kolkata, Siliguri also have the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC). Siliguri is the largest city in north Bengal and also the gateway to several North-Eastern states like Assam, and countries like Nepal and Bhutan. Siliguri is also the biggest trade centre of north Bengal. We think we have every right to get recognition as a new district. Moreover, no political party has opposed our move to fight for getting the district status," Malakar added.
