West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today ruled out division of the state and condemned violence in the hills by proponents of Gorkhaland.
Without naming Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), which is agitating for establishing a separate state of Gorkhaland in the three sub-divisions of Darjeeling and adjoining Dooars and Terai, the chief minister told a Left Front rally in Kolkata, "Darjeeling is on fire, but we will not allow division of West Bengal.
"We will not bow to the acts of vandals who are damaging roads and setting vehicles on fire."
Accusing Trinamool Congress of remaining silent on the violent activities of the GJM, he said, "Trinamool Congress has found a new friend in GJM. It is keeping mum and is not saying anything with an eye on getting votes in areas where the GJM has support. It wants to have GJM as a poll ally."
The latest trouble in Darjeeling followed the death of two GJM supporters in police firing during a clash between the women's wing of the GJM and the police in the Dooars on February eight.
