All India Gorkha League(AIGL) to observe Tamang’s death anniversary

SILIGURI, 14 MAY: The All India Gorkha League would observe the third death anniversary of its slain leader, Madan Tamang, in Darjeeling on 21 May. The party is set to observe the day by paying floral tributes at the deceased leader’s plaque that was installed on the spot near the Planters’ Club where he was hacked to death allegedly by GJMM activists in broad daylight in 2010. This aside, a public meeting is likely to be held at Chawk Bazar where the party leaders might recall his contribution to establishment of democratic discourse in violence-scarred Hills.

The party leadership would hold meeting with its leaders from Siliguri, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Darjeeling at its party office tomorrow to give final shape to the programmes slated for 21 May.

According to the AIGL leaders, they would observe the party’s foundation day tomorrow. The party came into being on 15 May 1943 in Dehradun in the present Uttarakhand at the initiative of Thakur Chandan Singh.

However, some years later, the party ceased to exist. It was revived in the 1950s in Darjeeling by Dambar Singh Gurung.

The AIGL vice president, Mr Laxman Pradhan, said: “We would pay homage to Dambar Singh Gurung at our party office in Darjeeling tomorrow. Besides, we would meet our leaders from Siliguri and the Hills to finalise the programmes to be held on 21 May.”

He also said his party would invite leaders from other parties to attend the memorial meeting on 21 May. “We would inform police and administration about our programmes tomorrow,” he added.

Notably, the AIGL had invited several political party leaders, including those from the CPI-M, last year. Two senior Marxist leaders, Mr Asok Bhattacharya and Mr Jibesh Sarkar, had attended the second memorial. Mr Bhattacharya today said: “We would attend this year too if invited.”

statesman news service