CPM cautions state govt against cornering GJMM...... Deb takes strong exception to Gurung’s dikta

SNS, Kurseong, 20 September : The CPI-M state committee member and an important party leader from the Darjeeling district, Mr Jibesh Sarkar, said that the state government’s cavalier handling of the statehood emotions of the Darjeeling Hills would land the state in deep trouble in the coming days. 

“The sooner the state government mends ways, the better it is, not just for the Hills but for the state as well,” he said while talking to reporters at Inspection Bunglow in Kurseong after the CPM’s zonal committee meeting. He said the need of the hour is to shed hostility and create the right ambience for productive talks. 

 “Tripartite talks can go a long way in defusing tension. Besides, we feel there is a need for an all-party meeting. All the parties should be brought on board. The presence of the party that is spearheading the statehood stir is a must. It is unfortunate that the state government has not evinced interest in convening such a meeting,” he said. Asking the GJMM not to go for an extreme rupture with the state government, the CPI-M leader said the party should sit with the state to set things right on the front of the GTA. 

“Forgoing the GTA that can be an instrument for development would be unwise on the part of the GJMM,” Mr Sarkar said. Batting for full autonomy for the Hills, he said his party had played an important role in bringing about DGHC. “We supported the GTA, though we had serious reservations over many things enshrined in the agreement. The state government has much to answer for as far as the failure of the GTA in meeting the aspirations of the Hill people is concerned,” Mr Sarkar said. 

He further informed that they are trying to re-activate the cells of the party all over the Hills. 

SNS, Siliguri, 20 September : The north Bengal development minister, Mr Gautam Deb, said necessary action would be taken if the Constitutional provisions are violated. Mr Deb said the Centre had been provoking the Hill issue to create pressure on the state government. 

“No one is above the law. The state government has been monitoring the situation in the Hills. The administration would take strong action if the provisions of the Constitution are violated,” Mr Deb said in Siliguri today when asked to comment on the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha chief Mr Bimal Gurung having asked the students to campaign for a separate state of Gorkhaland.