Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad chief in Dooars -Showcause fury at tribal leader

Jalpaiguri, Nov. 13/TT: Around 400 Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad supporters today surrounded the forum’s Bengal president and questioned the state committee’s decision to serve showcause notices on five leaders in the Dooars and the Terai.

Birsa Tirkey was on a tour of the Dooars and the Terai when he faced protest from the supporters of the five regional leaders. The five had been served the showcause notices as they had inked a pact with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha for the inclusion of the Terai and the Dooars in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration without the state committee’s consent.

Parishad general secretary Tezkumar Toppo, Dooars-Terai president John Barla and president of the Progressive Tea Workers Union Sukra Munda were among the five leaders showcaused by the state leadership.

Tirkey had arrived in the region yesterday to talk to the local leaders and assess the ground situation. “He is here basically to find out if any action against the regional leaders would affect the organisation’s credibility among the Adivasis in north Bengal as they enjoy support among the masses,” said an observer.

The state president had no inkling of what was in store for him at the stock-taking meeting with the local heavyweights today. Tirkey met the regional leaders at Toppo’s house in Malbazar, where a large number of Parishad members were present.

“After the meeting was over around 2.30pm, Tirkey was surrounded by about 400 Parishad members. They told Tirkey in no uncertain terms that the state leadership had done injustice by slapping show-cause notices on the five leaders,” said a Parishad source.

As Tirkey stood there without saying anything, Toppo escorted him away and told the crowd that they had briefed him on their stand. “We have replied to the showcause notices and have urged the state president to judge our stand impartially,” Toppo told the supporters.

The sources said Tirkey did not react as he could gauge the backing the regional leaders had among the masses.

While Toppo, Sukra Munda and Barla handed over their replies to the showcause, the two others will give the responses later.

Tirkey sounded soft when asked about the action being mulled against the five leaders. “We are an NGO and our constitution does not condone siding with political parties. I received some replies and the state committee will discuss the compulsions that made them side with the Morcha. We will reveal our decision in Calcutta on November 26.”