Trinamool Congress candidate for
Darjeeling, Bhaichung Bhutia, was yet again left embarrassed when the
locals of Badamtam area preferred to stay indoors during a party meeting
today. Apart from the odd 60-70 supporters who had accompanied
Bhaichung from surrounding villages, hardly any locals attended the
meeting today, leaving the former Indian Football captain asking
questions about the security situation in the area.
Badamtam is situated just 16km away from
Darjeeling and is a stronghold of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. The locals of
the area were allegedly forced to shut shutters and doors, and stayed
indoors during the entire meeting period. Interestingly, the locals of
Badamtam had given Bhaichung a warm reception a few months ago when he
was in the area to take part in a fundraising football match.
Bhaichung looking concerned said, "In
the 21st century this kind of politics is uncalled for and unethical.
Forceful closure is not good and this must be stopped. People should
have the right to choose their party and candidate."
He alleged the GJM of using the politics
of money and muscle power to show its strength. "The GJM is using
public money meant for developing the Hills for its election activities.
It would have been better if the money was instead given to the people
to secure their future," he added.
He said if elected as an MP, he would
work transparently to develop the Hills. "There is a lot of work that
needs to be done in the Hills. The road condition is pathetic, there is
perennial shortage of water, education has taken a hit and unemployment
is on a rise. If elected, my aim will be to address these burning
issues," he promised.
Rajen Tamang, the TMC (Hills)
vice-president was more forthright in his allegation on the GJM saying
it was "hooliganism" to force the people to stay away from the meeting.
"We had prior permission for today's public meeting, but GJM forced the
people of Badamtam to remain indoors and closed the market issuing
threats. However, I assure the people that our party will win this
election and end GJM's 'goondagiri' once and for all," he said.
Meanwhile, GJM leaders have rubbished
the allegations and said the party had no hand in today's shutdown in
Badamtam. "We did not issue any instruction to close Badamtam. People
may have chosen not to listen to the candidate of a party which is
against creation of a separate Gorkha state, so they stayed away from
TMC's meeting," said Jyoti Kumar Rai, the GJM assistant secretary. The
GJM leader pointed out that the TMC was holding public meetings at other
places in the Hills without any disturbance.(EOIC)