Schools closed in Bengal's hills against move to 'impose Bengali'

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's plans to make Bengali a compulsory subject in schools across the state met with opposition in the north Bengal hills as all schools there remained closed following a two-day shutdown in educational institutions called by the GJM that began on Thursday.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which is trying to escalate its confrontation with the ruling Trinamool Congress which has emerged as its main opposition in the hills, seized on the issue, calling it "Bengal government's conspiracy to impose Bengali on the hill people".

The shutdown evoked a good response and none of the schools in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts held classes during the day.

However, there were no reports of any untoward incidents, said police officers of the two districts.

Police were maintaining a strict vigil to ensure peace.

Banerjee had last month announced a three-language formula in all schools, irrespective of boards, from classes 1 to 10 and said Bengali would have to be a compulsory subject.

--IANS

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