Govt firm on opposing new GTA chief’s bail plea

SNS, Kolkata, 30 September 2013: Notwithstanding Mr Binay Tamang being elected the chief executive of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), the state government is in no mood to grant him any concession as regards his bail plea. 

Arrested on charges of rioting and arson, Mr Tamang is now lodged at the Jalpaiguri Central Correctional Home under judicial custody. 

Also contradicting Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) leader Mr Roshan Giri's claim that the Centre has convened a tripartite meet involving the state government and the GJMM on 23 October to discuss the functioning of GTA, Chief Minister Miss Mamata Banerjee told reporters on Monday evening that the state does not have information about such a meeting. 

“We do not have any such information. Besides, tripartite meeting over GTA is to be convened by us (the state government) and not the Centre,” the chief minister said. 

The last tripartite review meeting on GTA was held in June and the GTA Act does not specify the gap at which such meetings are to be held. 

“(Mr) Binay Tamang's election to the GTA top post does not change his status; he is still an accused in the eyes of law and going by the established norms, the prosecution will continue to oppose his bail,” said a senior official in the state home department. 

“As regards the functioning of GTA, the second man in position, that is the deputy chief executive, can well run the show.” The officer also clarified that the state has no plans to withdraw or reduce the number of Central troops deployed in the Darjeeling Hills.