Bharati Tamang hopes to meet CM.... AIGL to observe Tamang’s death anniversary

SNS, SILIGURI, 14 MAY: The All India Gorkha League (AIGL) president, Mrs Bharati Tamang, sounded hopeful that the Chief Minister, Miss Mamata Banerjee, would give her time during her current Hill trip that began today.

“I am looking forward to meeting her. I approached the administration seeking time. I have received no communication as yet as regards the appointment. However, I am sure she would give me time. If given time I would demand justice as regards my husband Madan Tamang's murder.  I would also apprise her of our assessment of the present political scenario in the Hills,” she said.

However, the senior CPI-M leader and the former state urban development minister, Mr Asok Bhattacharya, said he is sceptic about the chief minister giving time to the Opposition leader from the Hills during this trip.  

“We are almost sure Mrs Tamang would not get a chance to meet the chief minister. Miss Banerjee has come here to renew her earlier bonhomie with the GJMM that got estranged. Her party is now facing difficult times. The groundswell of support that catapulted her to power two years ago is fast waning. Placed in an unenviable situation at present, she is unlikely to risk anything that might corrode her support in the Hills,” he said.

He also said courting and then dumping individuals according to political expediency is part of Miss Banerjee’s brand of politics.

“Every individual be Mrs Tamang or others is expendable. She courted the widow of the slain Hill leader to coerce the recalcitrant GJMM into submission. She met her in Kolkata and assured of her commitment to doing justice regarding the 21 May murder. Now with things settling down, she is most likely to go back on her early commitment,” he said.

Mr Bhattacharya further said the state government has no road map as regards development of the Hills. “Neither does she have any commitment towards the principle of democracy in the Hills. Things change according to expediency,” he added.

AIGL to observe Tamang’s death anniversary

SNS, SILIGURI, 14 MAY: The All India Gorkha League would observe the third death anniversary of its slain leader, Madan Tamang, in Darjeeling on 21 May. The party is set to observe the day by paying floral tributes at the deceased leader’s plaque that was installed on the spot near the Planters’ Club where he was hacked to death allegedly by GJMM activists in broad daylight in 2010. This aside, a public meeting is likely to be held at Chawk Bazar where the party leaders might recall his contribution to establishment of democratic discourse in violence-scarred Hills.

The party leadership would hold meeting with its leaders from Siliguri, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Darjeeling at its party office tomorrow to give final shape to the programmes slated for 21 May.

According to the AIGL leaders, they would observe the party’s foundation day tomorrow. The party came into being on 15 May 1943 in Dehradun in the present Uttarakhand at the initiative of Thakur Chandan Singh.

However, some years later, the party ceased to exist. It was revived in the 1950s in Darjeeling by Dambar Singh Gurung.

The AIGL vice president, Mr Laxman Pradhan, said: “We would pay homage to Dambar Singh Gurung at our party office in Darjeeling tomorrow. Besides, we would meet our leaders from Siliguri and the Hills to finalise the programmes to be held on 21 May.”

He also said his party would invite leaders from other parties to attend the memorial meeting on 21 May. “We would inform police and administration about our programmes tomorrow,” he added.

Notably, the AIGL had invited several political party leaders, including those from the CPI-M, last year. Two senior Marxist leaders, Mr Asok Bhattacharya and Mr Jibesh Sarkar, had attended the second memorial. Mr Bhattacharya today said: “We would attend this year too if invited.”