Security tightened in view of Mamata’s visit.......GJAC to send delegation to Delhi

A file Photo

SNS, Siliguri, 30 August 2013: Elaborate security arrangements will be made in Kalimpong sub-division in Darjeeling Hills in view of chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee’s proposed visit there at a time when the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha has called a two-day bandh in the Hills in the name of ‘Ghar Bhitra Janata’ from 2 September. 

The administrative officials took the decision after the GJMM decided to call a two-day programme to “confine” people in the Hills during the chief minister’s visit to Kaimpong on 3 September where Miss Banerjee will be felicitated by Lepcha people for setting up Lepcha Development Council. 

A senior police official said that the GJMM in the name of Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee had prepared the agenda to confine the Hills people to their homes so that a large number of people, including the Lepcha community, cannot attend chief minister’s programme. 

The Inspector General of Police in north Bengal, Mr Shashikant Pujari, said: “Sufficient police arrangements, including deployment of Central forces, will be made in Kalimpong sub-division area so that people can come out of their homes without fear during the chief minister’s visit to Kalimpong on 3 September. Anybody can come out of his home. Nobody would be able to confine people at home forcibly. Police will take strict action against the offenders.” 

“We hope the GJMM will go for confrontation during its two-day programme to confine people inside their homes in the Hills,” Mr Pujari said. 

Notably, according to official sources, the organisers of the Lepcha community had planned to organise the programme in Siliguri to avoid any confrontation. Following the chief minister’s desire it was decided that the programme would be arranged in Darjeeling, but later the state administrative officials decided to hold the chief minister’s felicitation ceremony in Kalimpong, where the Lepcha people are concentrated. 

GJAC to send delegation to Delhi

To step up pressure on the Centre, the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee has decided to send a delegation to Delhi on 1 September. The delegation would include the MP, MLAs and the former MPs and MLAs from the Darjeeling Hills. They would try to meet the Union home minister Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde, the GJAC chairman Mr Enos Das Pradhan informed. A senior GJMM leader, Mr Raju Pradhan, said: "Among the political heavyweights to be included in the delegation are the CPRM president Mr RB Rai (former Rajya Sabha member) and Mr KB Chhetri (former Congress MP). 

A senior leader from the apolitical outfit, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, Mr Sukman Moktan would also be included in the delegation. This aside, three MLAs from the Hills, Mr Trilok Dewan from Darjeeling, Mr Harka Bahadur Chhetri from Kalimpong, Mr Rohit Sharma from Kurseong would be there as other members of the team." 

The MP from Darjeeling, Mr Jaswant Singh, the former Union minister, would lead the delegation, it is learnt. Meanwhile, posing embarrassment for the GJAC, Gorkha Rastriya Nirman Morcha (GRNM), one of the constituents of the conglomerate, skipped today’s meeting.  The outfit’s leader, Mr Dawa Pakhrin, had said in Siliguri a few days ago that his outfit would leave the group in case the GJMM keeps dillydallying over quitting the GTA. Mr Harka Bahadur Chhetri said he has no information that the outfit has quit the group. GJMM distributes rice, dal: