Darjeeling unrest: Naveen urges Centre, Bengal for safe return of Odia tourists

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday sought the intervention of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in facilitating the safe return of Odia tourists stranded due to the ongoing unrest in Darjeeling.

"Concerned for Odia families reportedly stranded in Darjeeling unrest. Request HMO India and Mamata Banerjee to intervene & arrange safe return," tweeted the Chief Minister.

Odisha Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Chandra Panda said efforts were being made to ensure safe return of tourists from the troubled region.

"I have spoken to West Bengal Tourism Minister on the issue. He said that three buses are leaving Darjeeling's Chowk Bazaar to Siliguri carrying tourists. From Siliguri, the passengers are being shifted to Kolkata," said Panda.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) stirred up unrest in the hills after the state announced that teaching of Bengali would be made compulsory in schools till Class 10.

--IANS

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