Bandh and development cannot go hand in hand: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday asserted that she has long put an end to to “bandh politics” in the state, as that always “came in the way of development”.

Banerjee’s assertion came a day after two pro-Gorkhaland parties withdrew their February 23 shutdown call in the Darjeeling Hills, in the wake of the Class 10 state board exam.

“I have helped Bengal earn freedom from the politics of bandh 11 years ago. We don’t support any bandh here,… it’s not our policy,” she told reporters.