Kurseong, 21 February: Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) president and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) chief, Bimal Gurung yesterday came down heavily on the Hill Trinamul Congress (TMC) leadership and activists, alleging that they are bent on unleashing terror in the Hills in connivance with police. He warned that he would take the challenge head-on, leaving behind the development agenda if these elements are not effectively curbed.
“Some local TMC people seem to be making full use of the perceived supineness of police. Emboldened by the law enforcers mollycoddling with them, they keep spreading terror across the Hills," he said, addressing a foundation stone laying programme for a super specialty hospital at the INS Bus Terminus here. Mr Gurung further said that while he is focused on developing the Hills through a string of projects in assistance from the state government a section of the people are intent on wrecking the cordial relationship between the state government and them.
"A few TMC people are engaged in ‘goondagiri’ across the Darjeeling Hills. They have been threatening and extorting from the business community and contractors. They are also threatening our supporters, saying that they will be put behind bars if they refuse with the help of police,” Mr Gurung said.
The Hills TMC general secretary, NB Khawas, however, said Mr Gurung’s allegations are baseless. "The reverse is true. They are laying the blame of something at our doorstep of which the GJMM activists are adepts," he said, adding, metaphorically, that a person with jaundice (yellow appearance) always sees others as having the disease as well.
Mr Gurung said a TMC member cannot do anything he likes on the assumption that they would get away with the misdeeds with his party ruling the roost in the state. “Does TMC subscribe to this?" he asked.
According to him, IB & DIB should inform the state government about the extortion spree being indulged in by the ruling par activists. "Stringent steps must be taken to stem the tide of
lawlessness," the GJMM leader said.
“We have also led agitation, but we were never into extortions, burning houses and beating up people.
People who engage themselves in such acts should never be parts of any political party or organisation,” Mr Gurung added.
“Some local TMC people seem to be making full use of the perceived supineness of police. Emboldened by the law enforcers mollycoddling with them, they keep spreading terror across the Hills," he said, addressing a foundation stone laying programme for a super specialty hospital at the INS Bus Terminus here. Mr Gurung further said that while he is focused on developing the Hills through a string of projects in assistance from the state government a section of the people are intent on wrecking the cordial relationship between the state government and them.
"A few TMC people are engaged in ‘goondagiri’ across the Darjeeling Hills. They have been threatening and extorting from the business community and contractors. They are also threatening our supporters, saying that they will be put behind bars if they refuse with the help of police,” Mr Gurung said.
The Hills TMC general secretary, NB Khawas, however, said Mr Gurung’s allegations are baseless. "The reverse is true. They are laying the blame of something at our doorstep of which the GJMM activists are adepts," he said, adding, metaphorically, that a person with jaundice (yellow appearance) always sees others as having the disease as well.
Mr Gurung said a TMC member cannot do anything he likes on the assumption that they would get away with the misdeeds with his party ruling the roost in the state. “Does TMC subscribe to this?" he asked.
According to him, IB & DIB should inform the state government about the extortion spree being indulged in by the ruling par activists. "Stringent steps must be taken to stem the tide of
lawlessness," the GJMM leader said.
“We have also led agitation, but we were never into extortions, burning houses and beating up people.
People who engage themselves in such acts should never be parts of any political party or organisation,” Mr Gurung added.
gjmm to resort to persuasion | party delegation to visit new delhi, no protests before polls
Kolkata, 21 February: With Parliament clearing the Telangana Bill, a delegation of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) will go to Delhi next week to press their demand for creation of a separate Gorkhaland state.
The team will be led by GJMM general secretary Mr Roshan Giri. According to GJMM leadership they will not launch a fresh agitation before the Lok Sabha elections but will instead urge the Centre to look into their demands for a separate state.
The GJMM chief, Mr Bimal Gurung, had earlier announced that a "massive rally" would be organised on 2 March at Sukna in Darjeeling district.
Top party sources said GJMM has already finalised its decision to form an alliance with the Trinamul Congress for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and it will soon announce its candidate for Darjeeling. Therefore, at this point they would not want to "disturb" the Mamata government and break the alliance. However, they will continue their movement for a separate state Gorkhaland and will put pressure on the Centre.
In August last year, GJMM leaders had called an indefinite hunger-strike in the Hills demanding Gorkhaland. The movement was eventually quashed by the state government and around 2,000 GJMM supporters were arrested forcing the party to withdraw its strike after a 40-day shutdown.
Earlier, Mr Giri had said the Andhra Pradesh government had not passed the Telangana Bill but Parliament had cleared the Bill. Hence, the state does not have a major role to play in this regard, he had claimed.
The GJMM leadership said they are confident the Centre will understand the sentiments of the Gorkha people and will take a unilateral decision in creating Gorkhaland despite protests from the state government.
The team will be led by GJMM general secretary Mr Roshan Giri. According to GJMM leadership they will not launch a fresh agitation before the Lok Sabha elections but will instead urge the Centre to look into their demands for a separate state.
The GJMM chief, Mr Bimal Gurung, had earlier announced that a "massive rally" would be organised on 2 March at Sukna in Darjeeling district.
Top party sources said GJMM has already finalised its decision to form an alliance with the Trinamul Congress for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and it will soon announce its candidate for Darjeeling. Therefore, at this point they would not want to "disturb" the Mamata government and break the alliance. However, they will continue their movement for a separate state Gorkhaland and will put pressure on the Centre.
In August last year, GJMM leaders had called an indefinite hunger-strike in the Hills demanding Gorkhaland. The movement was eventually quashed by the state government and around 2,000 GJMM supporters were arrested forcing the party to withdraw its strike after a 40-day shutdown.
Earlier, Mr Giri had said the Andhra Pradesh government had not passed the Telangana Bill but Parliament had cleared the Bill. Hence, the state does not have a major role to play in this regard, he had claimed.
The GJMM leadership said they are confident the Centre will understand the sentiments of the Gorkha people and will take a unilateral decision in creating Gorkhaland despite protests from the state government.
Statesman News Service