Raju Bista, the Darjeeling MP from the BJP, on Saturday alleged that the Bengal government had failed to sign a pact with the Centre for a Sainik school in Darjeeling despite two reminders from the defence ministry within a span of three months this year.

There are currently 33 Sanik schools in the country including one in Purulia in Bengal, set up in 1962. These schools are considered as feeder institutions for the National Defence Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Indian Military Academy and Officers Training Academy.

Bista in a written statement said: “I am unable to understand why the TMC-led Government of West Bengal has refused to sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Union Government, that will pave way for the establishment of a Sainik School in Darjeeling.”

The Darjeeling MP made public a response from defence minister Rajnath Singh stating that the ministry had sent two reminders this year on June 11 and August 4 “for signing a tripartite agreement between the Government of India, State Government of West Bengal and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration…”

“However, copy of agreement is yet to be received in the Ministry of Defence…,” the defence minister has written.

The BJP legislators alleged that the “apathy and discrimination” meted out by TMC towards the region was apparent and termed it “ironic” as Trinamul MPs had also earlier raised the issue.

The Centre had in principle agreed to set up a Sainik school in Darjeeling when the GTA was formed in 2012.

The Darjeeling hill region is a strong catchment area for the armed forces. Sources said that there are more than more than 13,000 retired defence personnel in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts presently in addition to more than 3,000 widows of personnel of armed forces. More than 150 personnel from the region have laid down their lives since 1947.

Last year, Union minister of state for defence, Shripad Naik, had told Parliament that the decision to set up the school in Darjeeling had been conveyed to the Bengal government in January 2015.

In 2016, GTA had said that they had identified a plot of land at Tiffin dara near Pokhriabong for the school.

“I humbly request all those who are working for TMC in the hills, including their junior team (read Binay Tamang faction of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha) to pursue this matter with Hon'ble Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ji and get them to sign the MoA, so that we can set up the Sainik School in our region,” stated Bista, who on Saturday was also appointed as one of the national spokespersons of the BJP from Bengal.

Shanta Chhteri, TMC Rajya Sabha member, said she had raised the issue in Parliament a year back.

“I, however, would not like to comment immediately as I am not aware of the details of the agreement Raju Bista is talking about,” said Chhetri.