Gorkha National Liberation Front leader
Arjun Rai has accused the GJM of fooling the people in spite of knowing
quite clearly that a separate state of Gorkhaland cannot be formed at
present.
Interacting with journalists in Mirik
town, Rai said the GJM shouts slogans demanding Gorkhaland only at times
when it gets into trouble. He also said that through their power to
vote, the people of the hills have given an apt answer to the party that
has only harassed them.
Responding to a question, Rai said the
GNLF extended support to the TMC because the latter requested it in
earnest. “It was a political decision to support the TMC, but it’s not
that the GNLF has become one with the TMC,” said the GNLF leader.
He asserted the party is resolute on its
demand for Sixth Schedule status and also claimed the GNLF will never
give up the issue of national security and identity of the Gorkha
community. At the same time, Rai said the Centre is in no position to
consider the Gorkhaland demand. He stressed Gorkhaland cannot be
achieved until the Gorkhas receive their ‘Khatiyan’, adding the Sixth
Schedule status will pave the way for statehood by granting the Gorkhas
their land rights.
GNLF to seek justice from human rights orgs
The
Gorkha National Liberation Front has said it will approach human rights
commissions to protest against an incident that occurred on April 17.
The episode occurred at Ward No. 2 under Kurseong Municipality and
involved a member of the GNLF’s women wing.
Talking to reporters, GNLF women’s wing spokesperson Ratna Pradhan said they will write to the National Commission for Women, National Human Rights Commission and the West Bengal Human Rights Commission about the April 17 incident during which GJM youth leader and Kurseong municipality chairman Samirdip Blon allegedly assaulted Rufhina Lama, the Kurseong town women’s wing president of the GNLF.
Pradhan said Lama had been deployed at a polling booth in ward no. 2 on April 17 as a polling agent for GNLF-supported TMC candidate Bhaichung Bhutia. She further alleged that when Lama objected to a woman from casting her vote as she neither had her voter’s ID nor any authentic identification proof, Blon misbehaved with Lama and even assaulted her.
Pradhan added the “shameful” act on a widow by the first citizen of Kurseong is unfortunate, but surprisingly, even after two days of the incident, the police have failed to take any action against Blon. Instead, Blon has filed a false complaint against Lama, of snatching a gold chain, claimed the GNLF spokesperson.
Senior GNLF leaders including Sanjay Chettri, Durga Pradhan, Bhusan Dewan and others today held a discussion with the police on the matter, said Pradhan, adding TMC Kurseong sub-divisional convener Kundan Mangrati was also present at the time.
On the other hand, Blon said he had visited the area to take stock of the situation as the GJM youth wing general secretary and not as the Kurseong municipality chairman. He said all the allegations against him are false.
Blon further said a voter was being deprived of her democratic right by Lama and that was when he intervened along with other election officials. He said as the intervention hurt Lama’s pride, she and other GNLF women members heckled him and even snatched his gold chain weighing 1.5 tola.
When contacted, the police said that the matter is under investigation. (EOIC)
Talking to reporters, GNLF women’s wing spokesperson Ratna Pradhan said they will write to the National Commission for Women, National Human Rights Commission and the West Bengal Human Rights Commission about the April 17 incident during which GJM youth leader and Kurseong municipality chairman Samirdip Blon allegedly assaulted Rufhina Lama, the Kurseong town women’s wing president of the GNLF.
Pradhan said Lama had been deployed at a polling booth in ward no. 2 on April 17 as a polling agent for GNLF-supported TMC candidate Bhaichung Bhutia. She further alleged that when Lama objected to a woman from casting her vote as she neither had her voter’s ID nor any authentic identification proof, Blon misbehaved with Lama and even assaulted her.
Pradhan added the “shameful” act on a widow by the first citizen of Kurseong is unfortunate, but surprisingly, even after two days of the incident, the police have failed to take any action against Blon. Instead, Blon has filed a false complaint against Lama, of snatching a gold chain, claimed the GNLF spokesperson.
Senior GNLF leaders including Sanjay Chettri, Durga Pradhan, Bhusan Dewan and others today held a discussion with the police on the matter, said Pradhan, adding TMC Kurseong sub-divisional convener Kundan Mangrati was also present at the time.
On the other hand, Blon said he had visited the area to take stock of the situation as the GJM youth wing general secretary and not as the Kurseong municipality chairman. He said all the allegations against him are false.
Blon further said a voter was being deprived of her democratic right by Lama and that was when he intervened along with other election officials. He said as the intervention hurt Lama’s pride, she and other GNLF women members heckled him and even snatched his gold chain weighing 1.5 tola.
When contacted, the police said that the matter is under investigation. (EOIC)