CPRM cries foul against govt on meet nod

RB Rai addresses the CPRM meeting in Darjeeling on Sunday. (Suman Tamang)

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling 24 November 2013: The CPRM today alleged that the state government had tried to stop the party from holding a public meeting here today because the party supported the cause of Gorkhaland.

The GNLF has also said it was denied permission thrice to hold a public meeting in the hills, though the party didn’t point a finger at the government.

A public meeting was organised by the CPRM, one of the parties with considerable support in the hills after the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, at Chowk Bazar here today.

At least three speakers, including CPRM president R.B. Rai, alleged they were unsure of the meeting even 24 hours before the programme.

“Our leaders had to meet the SDO (who grants permission) for at least six to seven days for the permission. We were unsure of the meeting even 24 hours before this programme. The state government probably wanted to foil our meeting as we are committed to the cause of Gorkhaland,” said Rai.

Another central committee member of the CPRM, L.M. Lama, drew a parallel between the administration’s attitude and the emergency days of the late 70’s.

The GNLF said the party had tried to obtain permission for a meeting in Darjeeling on October 27 but had to postpone it to November 17 following denial of permission.

“The party couldn’t hold the meeting on November 17 either as the authorities didn’t grant permission for the same. The GNLF decided to hold a meeting at Dooteriya helipad today, but permission was again denied to us. We have found out that the police have objected to our meeting stating that there could be law and order problems if we are granted permission to hold the meeting,” said a GNLF leader.

Indra Mani Rai, the GNLF convenor of Sadar 1, however, said the party had no intention of taking on the administration on the matter. “We will abide by the law of the land and will continue to seek permission for the meeting in coming days,” said Rai.

Kaushik Nag, the subdivisional officer (Darjeeling Sadar), said: “We have granted permission to all political parties to hold meetings provided there is no objection from the police. The allegations are baseless.”