Sitaram Yechury to attend CPM prog in Darjeeling

CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury will participate in the 100th birth anniversary programme of former West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu to be organised in the Darjeeling hills on December 3 by the party’s Darjeeling district committee.

CPM leaders from the district were upbeat about the veteran leader’s visit.

“We have decided to hold a programme on December 3 to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of our former comrade and chief minister. We took the decision at a meeting today in Darjeeling. Politburo member Yechury has also given his consent to attend the programme and speak on the political life of Basu and also about the present political scenario in the hills,” said CPM Darjeeling district committee acting secretary Jibesh Sarkar.

The day’s meeting, held at the CPM Darjeeling party office, was also attended by members of the district’s zonal and local committees of the Kalimpong unit.

“The programme will be held at the Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sammelan hall and we will invite representatives of various political parties barring those of the Trinamool Congress and the BJP,” said Sarkar, stating the CPM’s ideologies with those of the two parties are entirely opposite.

Speaking at a press conference called after the meeting, Sarkar came down heavily on the TMC. “We do not support the dictatorial attitude of the TMC and condemn the use of police pressure on the people here. We believe any problem can be solved through dialogue and that is what they should do,” said the CPM leader, adding his party would raise its voice on the illegal and undemocratic arrests of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration members and rejections of bail pleas.

“They (sabhasads) are individuals elected with the consent of the state and central governments. The arrests show the TMC-led state government is only worried about its political gain and not the common people. If GTA members can be arrested at will and without valid reasons, what will happen to the common public?” questioned Sarkar.

Speaking about the Darjeeling hills, the CPI (M) district committee acting secretary said, “Our party has always wanted maximum regional autonomy for this place. Our leaders, including Yechury, have raised the issue in Parliament and also demanded the inclusion of Darjeeling into the North East Council (NEC) besides declaring the region a tax free zone. Our former chief minister had always worked for the development of the hills.”(EOIC)