Binay advised Darjeeling Gymkhana Club to ramain apolitical

Darjeeling: Darjeeling Gymkhana Club, one of the most famous addresses in Darjeeling, was on Thursday advised to remain apolitical by Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) chief Binay Tamang.

Fingers have often been raised against the club, set up in 1909, that its members have allowed political leaders to dictate its functioning.

Such allegations had surfaced when the club failed to hold the elections to its executive committee after its term had expired on September 30, 2016.

Also, the club's premises were extensively used for political functions and meetings after 2007.

"This is a heritage institution of Darjeeling, perhaps among the oldest clubs in Bengal and even India. Members might be involved in political parties but once they enter the club, they should only be members and the club should not get involved in politics. Else, the status of the club will be lowered," Tamang said.

"Reopening" the club's roller-skating" rink after a shutdown for renovation, Tamang said after being appointed the chairman of the GTA, he was offered membership by two most prestigious clubs of Darjeeling - Gymkhana Club and Darjeeling Planter's Club.

"I am one of the youngest members of the club and it would not be right for me to speak much about the club...As soon as I became the chairman, I was offered membership by the Gymkhana Club and Darjeeling Planter's Club," said Tamang.

The leader, however, said that it would be more appropriate if ex-officio membership was offered by these two clubs to chairman of GTA.

"Like the district magistrate is an ex-officio member of the club, I would request these two famous clubs to include the chairman of GTA as an ex-officio member instead of offering memberships to individuals who become chairman of GTA," said Tamang. The Bengal governor is the ex-officio president of the club.

The club, which draws nearly 450 members from across India, has a mixed history. Allegations of a sex scandal had rocked the address earlier.

"The history of the club has been written both in golden letters and black letters," Milan Tamang, the chairman of the club, said on Thursday.

The skating rink was reopened for students after repairs that cost of Rs 5.5 lakh and will now remain open to children for skating on every Saturdays and Sundays. Skating facilities had been suspended since 2013.

At Thursday's "reopening", the vote of thanks was delivered twice and a dance repeated because Binay Tamang, who was holding an official meeting nearby, arrived late.

He walked in after the vote of thanks was delivered.

The Telegraph