West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also promised to carry forward the development work that has been started in the Cooch Behar district. (PTI file photo)
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee today accused the BJP of inciting the separate statehood movements in Cooch Behar district and Darjeeling sub- division in West Bengal for narrow political gains.
The two districts have witnessed for some years agitation for separate states. While it has been led by the Greater Cooch Behar People's Association in Cooch Behar, that in the Darjeeling subdivision is spearheaded by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha.
"The BJP is trying to break Cooch Behar and Darjeeling for narrow political gains. It always tries to fuel separate statehood movements in the state," Ms Banerjee told an election rally in Dinhata.
Ms Banerjee took the credit of settling the 68-year-old border enclave issue with Bangladesh.
"None of the previous state governments in Bengal could solve the enclave problem. But last year, I have solved the problem and ensured that people get their rights," she said.
Bangladesh and India have exchanged 162 adversely-held enclaves on August 1, last year, ending one of the world's most complex border disputes that had lingered for seven decades.
Ms Banerjee also promised to carry forward the development work that has been started in the Cooch Behar district.