GTA sabha to meet on Sept 27

THT, 14 September 2013, Darjeeling: State govt gives GJM second chance to elect a new chief executive member in Darjeeling .

The state government has given a second chance to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) to elect a new chief executive member for the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. (GTA.) 

The state has fixed September 27 as the date for the GTA Sabha meeting to elect a new chief. Talking to HT, Ram Das Meena, principal secretary, GTA said, “The state has given another chance for the election of GTA chief executive. 

The meeting will be held at noon on September 27. Accordingly, we will inform all concerned through notices dispatched through the sub divisional officers (SDOs) and block development officers (BDOs.) Roshan Giri, GJM general secretary said the GJM were not aware of any such meeting to be held on September 27. 

“Till now, the party stand is that all 10 arrested GTA members have to be released unconditionally then only will the GJM take part in the Sabha meeting,” he said. With GJM president Bimal Gurung resigning from the post of chief executive member on July 30, a GTA sabha meeting was slated on September 4 to elect a new chief. 

The GJM boycotted the meeting handing over a petition stating that unless the 10 arrested GTA members are released unconditionally, the party would not take part in the meeting. The GTA constitutes of 45 elected and 5 nominated members. 

All 45 elected members and 2 nominated members owe allegiance to GJM. The three other nominated members belong to the Trinamool Congress. Meanwhile, GJM along with frontal organisation and Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee supporters dressed in traditional attires sat in protest dharnas in Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik. 

They sported black arm bands and shouted anti-government slogans demanding the release of more than 1, 170 GJM supporters and leaders arrested since July 29. The sit in dharnas will continue till October 20. The traditional attire is to bring out the differences with the rest of Bengal thus justifying separation from the state. 

“If the spate of arrests continue then we will launch a “Jail-bharo” (courting arrest) programme all over the Hills” added Giri. Meanwhile, PDS dealer Nand Kishor Agarwal who had been arrested from Sukhipokhari was produced at the chief judicial magistrate court in Darjeeling on Friday. 

“The police had prayed for 5 days of police custody for Agarwal but the CJM granted 3,” said Pankaj Prasad, assistant public prosecutor (APP,) Darjeeling. Agarwal was arrested for allegedly diverting 100 bags of PDS rice grains to the GJM. 

Inspector of food supplies Navin Subba was picked up by the police and is being interrogated in connection with public distribution case at Darjeeling Sadar police station.