Morcha challenge to Harka

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, Dec. 15: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today dared Harka Bahadur Chhetri and supporters of the District Demand Committee to hold a dharna at Nabanna, saying the demands he and the panel were raising could not be fulfilled by the GTA because of interference by the state government in its functioning.

The Morcha has also asked the committee to include formation of Gorkhaland in the 13-point charter of demands in the dharna.

The committee, whose chief co-ordinator is Kalimpong MLA Chhetri, had started an indefinite dharna in Kalimpong yesterday with 13 demands, including the upgrade of Kalimpong subdivision to a district.

The committee filed a police complaint today, saying there was an explosion near the venue of the dharna. The police said there was no blast and some people might have burst firecrackers.

The committee also seeks resolution to the issue of electricity dues incurred during the Morcha's statehood agitation, repair of roads, three-tier panchayat elections in the hills, solution to unemployment problem, land rights to tea garden and cinchona plantation workers, regulated market in Kalimpong, rights to workers of unorganised sectors and upgrade of Kalimpong hospital. The other demands are disclosure of GTA plan for overall development of Kalimpong, inclusion of 396 plains mouzas in the GTA and regularisation of the jobs of casual staff at the GTA.

In a statement issued today, Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said: "Had the state not interfered in the working of the GTA and had all promises made by chief minister Mamata Banerjee been fulfilled, the issues raised by the district committee would have easily been resolved by the GTA. Even Harka had in the past admitted the state's interference in the GTA's functioning. Instead of holding a dharna in Kalimpong, Chhetri and the District Demand Committee should hold a dharna against the state government at Nabanna, Calcutta."

Chhetri also said: "At the moment, Harka shares a very good rapport with the chief minister. If he is a true Gorkha, he should also include the demand of Gorkhaland in his list of demands and stage a dharna at Nabanna."

Observers believe Chhetri would find it hard to raise the Gorkhaland demand with Mamata who is tooth and nail against the division of Bengal.