Darjeeling, June 23:
Trinamul has sounded its support for nine landowners protesting the use
of their plots for a tourism project by Bimal Gurung at a time the
administration is facing local resistance in trying to build a hawkers’
market in Chowrasta.
The hill Trinamul yesterday held a
meeting with the reluctant landowners from Jamuni, on whose plots GTA
chief executive Gurung plans to build a water park, a garden and a
Buddha statue.
The total land
required for the project is 26 acres. About 13 acres belong to the nine
families who have alleged that they were “repeatedly threatened” to part
with their plots and not paid compensation. Two willing families owned
two acres and received a compensation at the rate of Rs 8 lakh per acre.
The rest of the land was already with the GTA.
The nine
landowners yesterday released a signed document under the official
letterhead of Trinamul saying they would fight for justice and testify
against Gurung in court if needed.The signature of Rajen Tamang,
Trinamul (hills) vice-president, was also on the letter.
Rajen Tamang, who
presided over yesterday’s meeting at Dhobi Talow in Darjeeling, said:
“The party will always remain beside poor people. People must be
conscious and they must be able to speak the truth. The administration
will also be on the side of the truth.”
The GTA has
claimed that it would build houses for the landlosers and provide job to
each member of each landloser family. Kaziman Lohagun, the GTA Sabha
member from Bijanbari-Goke constituency where the disputed land is,
said: “We are trying to do good for the hill people. But this is their
choice. We have nothing to say.”
Jamuni is 20km from Darjeeling town.
One of the
landowners, Manilal Tamang, on June 17 filed a complaint with the
district magistrate alleging trespass and conspiracy and under the
Prevention of Atrocities on Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes Act
against six men and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Gurung. Tamang alleged
that the six men threatened him under Gurung’s instructions.
He also said the
GTA was trying to take his plot forcibly. The six men were arrested and
police seized two bulldozers, an excavator and a pick-up van on June 17.
Trinamul has for
several months tried to gain a foothold in the hills. It lost the
Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat to the BJP, which won it because of Morcha’s
support.
Earlier this
month, residents of Darjeeling protested the plan to build a hawkers’
market in Chowrasta by cutting down trees in the town’s main promenade.
The hawkers’ market is a project that has chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s blessings.
Darjeeling district magistrate Puneet Yadav could not be contacted for comments today.
After Manilal
Tamang filed the police complaint, on June 21, the Nari Morcha submitted
a deputation to district magistrate alleging that the decision to slap
the case against Gurung was “politically motivated”.
The statement by
the landowners said: “We have come to know that the Nari Morcha has come
out in support of Bimal Gurung, stating that we were not threatened.
All of us are witness to this incident and if the need arises, we are
all ready to testify in court. Bimal Gurung has repeatedly threatened
us.… Now, he is sending messages for a settlement but if we have to
reach a settlement, we will do so with the state government or under the
supervision of the district magistrate.”(TT)