West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday rooted for peace in Junglemahal and pledged food and jobs for all. While addressing a rally in Bagmundi of Purulia district, which was once the hotbed of the Maoists, she vowed that she would not allow violence to return to the Junglemahal.
“My government has been able to restore peace in Junglemahal and it is carrying out development work for the people. We want development and not guns,” she said. She asked the people to take an oath that they would not allow armed insurgents to disturb peace and development in the region again.
She emphasised the need to develop and showcase parts of Purulia as attractive tourist destination. “We will set up a tourism circuit from Ayodhya and Jaichandi hills in Purulia to Kolkata. This circuit will pass through Bankura and West Midnapore,” she added,
She also announced that `32,000 crore would be invested in various projects in the industrial belt of Raghunathpur which will generate 50000 jobs. Another important announcement was the setting up of 800 MW thermal power project at Ayodhya hills. Ms Banerjee also distributed pattas of land to landless farmers, scholarships and educational loans among students and cycles among OBC girl students. She laid the foundation stones for polytechnic college, engineering college et al. Ms Banerjee is on a three-day tour to Junglemahal.