Panighata, June 11: The Trinamul Congress today inducted a number of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders at a public programme in Panighata and signalled the possibility of contesting the GTA polls scheduled for next month.
A number of GNLF leaders, including former DGHC councillors, also joined Trinamul along with middle-ranking Morcha leaders in the presence of minister Gautam Deb. Trinamul claimed that nearly 1,500 people joined the party in its first public meeting in the Darjeeling hills, a Morcha turf.
“Today’s was the first public meeting of Trinamul in the hills. We intend to spread our base in the hills and participate in the development process taken up by Mamata Banerjee,” Deb, who is the chairman of the Trinamul core committee of north Bengal, said. “Our intention is not to oppose any other political party but spread the message of peace, harmony and democracy to expedite development.”
Deb said Trinamul would soon form committees at different levels in the hills.
“Regarding the issue of the GTA mouzas and the polls, we will request the people to maintain peace as the party concerned (Morcha) will meet the chief minister soon. We want people to refrain from activities that might jeopardise progress and development in the hills,” Deb added.
The meeting comes two days after the Justice Shyamal Sen committee’s report on the Morcha demand for territory was disclosed. The committee has recommended the inclusion of five plains mouzas in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), which has not gone down well with the Morcha that had demanded 396. The party has lined up a month-long agitation programme to protest the report.
In Panighata today, Rajen Mukhia, a former GNLF leader with three former DHGC councillors K.N. Subba, N.B. Khawas and Tshering Sherpa, joined Trinamul. Following him were some middle-ranking Morcha leaders from the hills and the Terai like Bishal Chhetri, Yuvraj Tamang and Shyam Rai. Slogans like “long live Mamata Banerjee” rent the Panighata air.
After the joining ceremony, the newly inducted members and Trinamul supporters from all three hill subdivisions, took out a procession in Panighata. Led by Deb and escorted by police, the rally culminated at the meeting venue.
“The GNLF and Morcha could not achieve Gorkhaland and took the path of compromise for their own interests. But Mamata Banerjee, who visited the hills six times during her first year of governance, did a lot for the hills, right from sanctioning of funds for development to the implementation of new infrastructure projects,” Mukhia said. “We joined Trinamul today to bring peace, democracy and development in the hills.”
While Deb refused to speak on the GTA polls, a Trinamul leader said: “The ultimate aim is to contest the elections. Nearly 1,500 people joined our party in a single day.”
Asked if Trinamul had promised him a ticket in the GTA polls, Mukhia did not give a direct reply: “We are not saying anything on Gorkhaland. But regarding GTA, which would be formed through elections, it is a usual practice for regional and national parties to contest polls. We find nothing wrong in such participation.”
Bishal Chhetri, a former member of the Terai committee of the Morcha, said discontentment was brewing among Morcha workers in the plains
“Morcha leaders have failed to address our demand to be included in the GTA. The agreement was signed without considering our aspirations,” Bishal Chhetri said. “In Trinamul, there is no such pretence. The chief minister and her colleagues like Gautam Deb are working consistently for the hills with specific plans for development. We would prefer to be in Trinamul.”
Shankar Adhikary, the president of the Terai committee of the Morcha, refused to put much importance to today’s programme. “Bishal Chhetri was the former president of the Terai branch committee and was removed from the post. Later, he was also expelled from Morcha,” Adhikary said, trying to dismiss Chhetri’s importance as a Morcha leader. “The others who joined lack political consciousness, are prone to ill habits like drugs and have their own interests. Trinamul’s entry however, will not affect the Morcha.”
Some Morcha supporters had planned to waylay Deb with black flags to protest the Sen committee report but the minister took a different route while entering Panighata. Local sources said the Morcha was planning a public meeting tomorrow to counter today’s meeting and prove their base.
A number of GNLF leaders, including former DGHC councillors, also joined Trinamul along with middle-ranking Morcha leaders in the presence of minister Gautam Deb. Trinamul claimed that nearly 1,500 people joined the party in its first public meeting in the Darjeeling hills, a Morcha turf.
“Today’s was the first public meeting of Trinamul in the hills. We intend to spread our base in the hills and participate in the development process taken up by Mamata Banerjee,” Deb, who is the chairman of the Trinamul core committee of north Bengal, said. “Our intention is not to oppose any other political party but spread the message of peace, harmony and democracy to expedite development.”
Deb said Trinamul would soon form committees at different levels in the hills.
“Regarding the issue of the GTA mouzas and the polls, we will request the people to maintain peace as the party concerned (Morcha) will meet the chief minister soon. We want people to refrain from activities that might jeopardise progress and development in the hills,” Deb added.
The meeting comes two days after the Justice Shyamal Sen committee’s report on the Morcha demand for territory was disclosed. The committee has recommended the inclusion of five plains mouzas in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), which has not gone down well with the Morcha that had demanded 396. The party has lined up a month-long agitation programme to protest the report.
In Panighata today, Rajen Mukhia, a former GNLF leader with three former DHGC councillors K.N. Subba, N.B. Khawas and Tshering Sherpa, joined Trinamul. Following him were some middle-ranking Morcha leaders from the hills and the Terai like Bishal Chhetri, Yuvraj Tamang and Shyam Rai. Slogans like “long live Mamata Banerjee” rent the Panighata air.
After the joining ceremony, the newly inducted members and Trinamul supporters from all three hill subdivisions, took out a procession in Panighata. Led by Deb and escorted by police, the rally culminated at the meeting venue.
“The GNLF and Morcha could not achieve Gorkhaland and took the path of compromise for their own interests. But Mamata Banerjee, who visited the hills six times during her first year of governance, did a lot for the hills, right from sanctioning of funds for development to the implementation of new infrastructure projects,” Mukhia said. “We joined Trinamul today to bring peace, democracy and development in the hills.”
While Deb refused to speak on the GTA polls, a Trinamul leader said: “The ultimate aim is to contest the elections. Nearly 1,500 people joined our party in a single day.”
Asked if Trinamul had promised him a ticket in the GTA polls, Mukhia did not give a direct reply: “We are not saying anything on Gorkhaland. But regarding GTA, which would be formed through elections, it is a usual practice for regional and national parties to contest polls. We find nothing wrong in such participation.”
Bishal Chhetri, a former member of the Terai committee of the Morcha, said discontentment was brewing among Morcha workers in the plains
“Morcha leaders have failed to address our demand to be included in the GTA. The agreement was signed without considering our aspirations,” Bishal Chhetri said. “In Trinamul, there is no such pretence. The chief minister and her colleagues like Gautam Deb are working consistently for the hills with specific plans for development. We would prefer to be in Trinamul.”
Shankar Adhikary, the president of the Terai committee of the Morcha, refused to put much importance to today’s programme. “Bishal Chhetri was the former president of the Terai branch committee and was removed from the post. Later, he was also expelled from Morcha,” Adhikary said, trying to dismiss Chhetri’s importance as a Morcha leader. “The others who joined lack political consciousness, are prone to ill habits like drugs and have their own interests. Trinamul’s entry however, will not affect the Morcha.”
Some Morcha supporters had planned to waylay Deb with black flags to protest the Sen committee report but the minister took a different route while entering Panighata. Local sources said the Morcha was planning a public meeting tomorrow to counter today’s meeting and prove their base.
Source: the telegraph
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha,GNLF,AIGL Leaders Join TMC
PANIGHATA: Founder member of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in the Terai Vishal Chhetri and host of councillors of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council such as N.B. Khawas, GNLF councillor from Kurseong, Gorubathan councillor K.N. Subba, Kalimpong Municipality councillor Chhiring Sherpa on Monday joined Trinamool Congress amid tight police security in a public meeting held at Panighata, close to Bagdogra. Even GNLF supremo Subash Ghising's once lieutenant Rajen Mukhiya was among the hundreds who embraced the twin flower. "A total 972 GJM and GNLF leaders and activists joined Trinamool Congress," said North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb. Deb held that the new development gave the Trinamool Congress a foothold in the Hills. However, GJM leaders in the Terai area didn't attach much importance to it. They felt that the people who joined the Trinamool did it because they wanted a passport to the Hills badly. Most of them could not enter the Hills for all these days.
Source: TOI
Trinamool inducts 'dissident' GJM activists
Siliguri, June 11 : In a bid to increase its presence in the Darjeeling hills, West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress Monday inducted hundreds of "dissident" supporters of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) into its fold.
Trinamool's move to induct party workers of both GJM and GNLF -- the two main pro-Gorkhaland political parties of the hills -- comes within a day of GJM's threat to renew violent agitation over their disappointment with the report placed by the high-powered committee on additional areas in the proposed Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) in northern West Bengal.
"Today (Monday) a total of 972 political activists from different political parties joined Trinamool Congress. Of these, most belong to either GJM or GNLF. It will definitely increase our strength in the hills," said Gautam Deb, North Bengal Development minister and senior Trinamool Congress leader.
Upset over a high-powered committee's report on additional areas to be included in the proposed Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) in northern West Bengal, the GJM has called a 72-hour shutdown from July 2.
The committee was set up July 29 last year after the GJM demanded 398 additional mouzas (area less than a sub-division) spread over Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts to be included in the GTA -- a new hill council that would run the administration in Darjeeling area.
The committee said only five mouzas - two in Jalpaiguri district and three in Darjeeling district - fulfilled all the criteria for being part of the GTA. (IANS)
Trinamool's move to induct party workers of both GJM and GNLF -- the two main pro-Gorkhaland political parties of the hills -- comes within a day of GJM's threat to renew violent agitation over their disappointment with the report placed by the high-powered committee on additional areas in the proposed Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) in northern West Bengal.
"Today (Monday) a total of 972 political activists from different political parties joined Trinamool Congress. Of these, most belong to either GJM or GNLF. It will definitely increase our strength in the hills," said Gautam Deb, North Bengal Development minister and senior Trinamool Congress leader.
Upset over a high-powered committee's report on additional areas to be included in the proposed Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) in northern West Bengal, the GJM has called a 72-hour shutdown from July 2.
The committee was set up July 29 last year after the GJM demanded 398 additional mouzas (area less than a sub-division) spread over Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts to be included in the GTA -- a new hill council that would run the administration in Darjeeling area.
The committee said only five mouzas - two in Jalpaiguri district and three in Darjeeling district - fulfilled all the criteria for being part of the GTA. (IANS)
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