Darjeeling, 10 February: The Darjeeling District Magistrate and campaigners associated with the forest rights movement in Darjeeling today engaged in an argument after the latter accused the DM of dealing with their concerns in an “unconstitutional, intemperate and blatantly communal way.”
A press release issued today by Uttar Banga Van-Jan Shromojivi Manch (UBVJSM), Himalayan Forest Villagers Organisation (HFVO) and All India Forum of Forest Movements (AIFFM) stated that the district magistrate had humiliated them by insultingly referring to their ethnic identity.
The DM shouted at one Swarup Saha, a campaigner for forest rights, saying that the Bengalis like him are misleading the Nepali people in the Hills, the release said.
It is learnt that Mr Saha, associated with the HFVO and UBSM, along with seven other campaigners had gone to meet the DM, Mr Puneet Yadav, in his chamber to discuss the implementation of the Forests Rights Act (FRA) in Darjeeling district.
According to the press release, the DM “threw out” Mr Saha, a prominent forest rights campaigner, out of his chamber, while talking to the delegation.
The activists have condemned what they called Mr Yadav’s “attempt to communalise the forest rights movement in Darjeeling.”
Meanwhile, Mr Yadav, who joined as the Darjeeling DM recently, said the situation at hand demanded that Mr Saha be “expelled” from the meeting.
"This is only about one person (Swarup Saha). He was going wild against the federal structure of the state," the DM said. "His allegation was that the Darjeeling Forest Officer approved only 42 forest villages and said that there are some 64 forest villages in the district. He then accused the forest department officials of depriving them of their rights and said I was conniving with them,” he said.
He added: “He, however, did not produce any proof to support his harsh statements."
According to Mr Yadav, Mr Saha also wondered how IAS and IPS officers coming from outside Darjeeling know anything about the forest villages in the region.
One of the campaigners present in the meeting said they have recorded the entire conversation with the DM, including his “communal remarks."
The forest rights campaigners said they will write to the state chief secretary, the home secretary and the divisional commissioner, Jalpaiguri, about the DM’s behaviour. They also demanded an unconditional apology from Mr Yadav.(SNS)
A press release issued today by Uttar Banga Van-Jan Shromojivi Manch (UBVJSM), Himalayan Forest Villagers Organisation (HFVO) and All India Forum of Forest Movements (AIFFM) stated that the district magistrate had humiliated them by insultingly referring to their ethnic identity.
The DM shouted at one Swarup Saha, a campaigner for forest rights, saying that the Bengalis like him are misleading the Nepali people in the Hills, the release said.
It is learnt that Mr Saha, associated with the HFVO and UBSM, along with seven other campaigners had gone to meet the DM, Mr Puneet Yadav, in his chamber to discuss the implementation of the Forests Rights Act (FRA) in Darjeeling district.
According to the press release, the DM “threw out” Mr Saha, a prominent forest rights campaigner, out of his chamber, while talking to the delegation.
The activists have condemned what they called Mr Yadav’s “attempt to communalise the forest rights movement in Darjeeling.”
Meanwhile, Mr Yadav, who joined as the Darjeeling DM recently, said the situation at hand demanded that Mr Saha be “expelled” from the meeting.
"This is only about one person (Swarup Saha). He was going wild against the federal structure of the state," the DM said. "His allegation was that the Darjeeling Forest Officer approved only 42 forest villages and said that there are some 64 forest villages in the district. He then accused the forest department officials of depriving them of their rights and said I was conniving with them,” he said.
He added: “He, however, did not produce any proof to support his harsh statements."
According to Mr Yadav, Mr Saha also wondered how IAS and IPS officers coming from outside Darjeeling know anything about the forest villages in the region.
One of the campaigners present in the meeting said they have recorded the entire conversation with the DM, including his “communal remarks."
The forest rights campaigners said they will write to the state chief secretary, the home secretary and the divisional commissioner, Jalpaiguri, about the DM’s behaviour. They also demanded an unconditional apology from Mr Yadav.(SNS)