PRADIP LOHAGUN
KALIMPONG
2 Sep 2013
The Kalimpong section of the Lepcha
community will on Tuesday honour chief minister Mamata Banerjee with the
‘Kingstoom Dartim’ (bestower of fortune) title.
The CM arrived in Kalimpong around 4 pm
today under tight security. Several Lepcha community members had
gathered on the way to welcome her. Banerjee also walked some distance
and was garlanded with ‘khadas’. She then went to the Circuit House at
Durpin to spend the night but before that, she addressed the Lepchas at
the Town Hall who greeted her with ‘Achuley’ to celebrate her coming to
the Hills.
The police and administration were on
high alert with tight security prevailing in the area since Sunday.
Several top officials of the North Bengal police department surveyed the
town in advance to avert any untoward incident, especially when
relations between Banerjee and the GJM are at their nadir. The CM did
not talk with media personnel present at the Circuit House.
The felicitation programme at Mela Ground is scheduled to begin at 11am on Tuesday.
On the other hand, the GJM, GJAC and
Lepcha community members in Darjeeling have displayed their ire at the
lack of solidarity being portrayed by the decision of the Kalimpong
Lepchas to go ahead with their felicitation programme.
“The state government is creating
division not only between the Gorkhas and Lepchas but also within our
community. They (Kalimpong Lepchas) should not be indifferent to the
common sentiment and aspirations of the Hills people,” said Hemant
Lepcha, vice president of the Darjeeling-based All India Lepcha
Association (AILA)
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