The Jana Andolan Party today accused both Mamata Banerjee and Bimal
Gurung of indulging in politics over the GTA funds and asked the state
government to conduct an audit of the hill body.
Amar Lama, a bureau member of the JAP, today said: "The chief
minister had come up with a Rs 1,000 crore figure during a public
meeting in Kurseong in March and after a few months, she talks about Rs
4,000 crore in Kalimpong. Instead of speaking on an issue like this at a
public gathering, the chief minister should act seriously. The state
government should ask the CAG to conduct an audit and if they find
financial irregularities, the state should supersede the GTA as is laid
out in the Act."
Lama further said the chief minister was raising the funds issue only
when her relation with the Morcha was on the rocks. "Why is the issue
being raised only when the relation between the two parties has hit a
low? Had the relation (between the Morcha and Trinamul) been steady, it
seems, the chief minister would have never raised the issue," said Lama.
In the recent Assembly elections, the JAP was in an alliance with the Trinamul Congress.
Accusing the Morcha of failing to be transparent, Lama said: "The
Morcha must be transparent on the issue. The GTA, which is controlled by
the Morcha, should give a proper reply to funds queries and should not
hide details on money matters. However, there was no need to call a
general strike on an issue related to claims and counter-claims on
funds."
Late in the evening, Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the
Morcha, said the Wednesday strike was also to strengthen the voice of
Gorkhaland, which the state government was trying to scuttle in all
possible ways.(TT)
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