Mamata's allegation about outside arms needs probe: Darjeeling MP

Terming West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claims of arms being brought to Darjeeling from northeastern states and foreign countries a "serious issue", Darjeeling MP S.S. Ahluwalia on Tuesday demanded a probe to check for any internal security lapses.

"If the arms are coming to Darjeeling from the northeastern states then it is not just a state issue. It is a serious matter. What was the state government doing all this while? Were they sleeping?

"I have urged the Home Ministry to call an internal security meeting to check if there is really any case of internal security breach or not. Mamata Banerjee would also be called in the meeting," said the BJP lawmaker.

Referring to Banerjee's allegations of involvement of foreign countries in fueling the Darjeeling unrest, he claimed that the state took no initiatives to stop such infiltration or notify the Central government about it.

"She also claimed that the arms are coming through the international border. If there were infiltration, what initiatives did the state government take to stop it or notify the Centre about the same," he said.

Ahluwalia also accused Banerjee of shunning the possibility of a dialog between the central and state government representatives and the Gorkha leaders on the rising tension in the hills.

"The representatives of the central government, West Bengal government and agitating Gorkha leaders could sit together and discuss a possible solution in the hills. But Mamata Banerjee clearly declined to come to the meeting or send any representatives," he alleged.

--IANS

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