Darjeeling, May 21: A nominated GTA
Sabha member of the Trinamul Congress today criticised the “style of
functioning” of two leaders of his party based in the plains, raising
doubts of a rift in the hill unit’s leadership.
This is the first time that a Trinamul leader has been vocal in criticising others in the party in the hills.
Milan Dukpa, the
GTA Sabha member, today said: “Our supporters are being threatened and
attacked. One of our sympathisers’ house was burnt down in Badamtam last
night but Rajen Mukhia (convenor of Trinamul, hills) and Binny Sharma
(spokesman for the party’s hill unit) are in Siliguri issuing press
statements. I strongly protest their style of functioning. Instead of
issuing statements from Siliguri, they should have had the courage to
come up to the hills to meet our supporters.”
Mukhia stays at Panighata, near Siliguri, and Sharma is based in Siliguri town.
Dukpa’s statement
comes after alleged Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters torched a vehicle
and a two-storey wooden house of Dhanbahadur Tamang in Badamtam, 16km
from here, last night.
“I was in the
house with my wife. Around 9.45pm, I heard some noise outside. When I
came out, I found my vehicle was on fire. I recognised two persons,
Manoj Subba and Sanjay Pradhan, who were fleeing the spot. They are
Morcha supporters,” said Tamang, who makes a living by renting out his
jeep, which he drives himself. “I was being considered a Trinamul
sympathiser as the party used to hire my jeep. I used to rent out my
vehicle to the party as this is my business. Now, I have become a
Trinamul supporter. I have lost property worth Rs 35 lakh in the fire.”
Tamang has filed an FIR against the two Morcha supporters with
Darjeeling Sadar police station.
D.P. Pradhan, a
Morcha leader and an elected GTA Sabha member from Lebong Badamtam,
said: “The Morcha is not involved. We always considered Tamang our
sympathiser. There could be personal grudges. Some people might be
trying to defame our party.”
Morcha chief Bimal
Gurung, who is in Delhi along with other party leaders, said: “I am
saddened to hear about the political unrest in the hills. No matter
which party one belongs to, all must work towards maintaining peace. One
of the major reasons why we are stressing on a Delhi-centric movement
for Gorkhaland is to ensure peace in the hills.”
When asked about
Dukpa’s comments, Binny Sharma said: “I do not want to comment on what
Milan Dukpa has said. It is for the party to evaluate our work and we
are not answerable to Milan Dukpa.”
Rajen Mukhia could not be contacted.
Today, in Mungpoo,
35km from here, shops and schools reopened after two days of shutdown
following a Trinamul-Morcha clash on Monday. Morcha activists had
alleged Trinamul supporters had attacked them and Trinamul supporters
had said they reacted for self-defence. Trinamul had alleged that Morcha
supporters had burnt their party flags on Sunday triggering the clash.(TT)