ABAVP threatens to campaign against state government

SILIGURI, 12 APRIL: Mainstream ABAVP leaders today informed North Bengal Development Affairs Minister Gautam Deb that they would go against the state government if it plans to set up Terai-Dooars Development Council (TDDC).

The ABAVP leaders, led by Mr Rajesh Lakra, today served a memorandum to Mr Deb’s department on different issues, including the TDDC and proposed Hindi College at Banarhat in Jalpaiguri.

The Trinamul Congress was campaigning that the state would set up the council for this region under North Bengal Development Affairs Department. The matter came to light after the GJMM-backed MLA from Kalchini, Mr Wilson Chamramary, joined the Trinamul Congress. The Trinamul leaders in Jalpaiguri also campaigned that Mr Champramarywould be the head of the council.

Mr Lakra said that they would start agitating against the state government if it sets up the council ignoring their long-standing demand for setting up an autonomous body ~ Tribal Advisory Council with Constitutional guarantee.

“We have been demanding that the state set up the TAC under 5th Scheduled of the Indian Constitution. However, the government is trying to appease the residents of the region offering the TDDC ahead of the rural polls,” Mr Lakra said.

They also demanded that the state start functioning of the proposed Hindi College from a makeshift arrangement from the current education session after laying the foundation for the college at Banarhat immediately.

The mainstream ABAVP state president would hold a series of meetings with their members and supporters in the Dooars from tomorrow. The leaders would visit the area till Tuesday and campaign against the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, which has tied up with the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha in the region to contest the rural polls.

The leadership has issued show-cause notices and sought clarification from three leaders, who recently started working for the JMM in the Dooars region.

Mr Lakra said they have sought clarification from Mr T Soren, Mr Rajesh Barla and Mr Amardhan Buxla in the Dooars about their present anti-organisational role and why they decided to join hands with the JMM despite resolution against the political party.

statesman news service