Supporters of Kalimpong district accuse GJM of fomenting chaos

EOI, Darjeeling, 15 Dec 2015: The Kalimpong District Demand Committee, which started an indefinite dharna from Monday for a separate Kalimpong district, today alleged supporters of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha were trying to intimidate the agitators. In its complaint lodged at the Kalimpong police station, the KDDC has claimed some miscreants on Monday bursts firecrackers near the spot where the agitators were staging the dharna.

The intention was to create chaos, according to the agitators. Kalimpong MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri, who is leading the committee, said the GJM was trying to hijack the district issue and using terror to take credit for it. When asked to specify his reasons, Chhetri said, “They (GJM) have failed to deliver in all these years. Be it the matter of regularisation of teachers and council workers or other issues, the GJM has not done anything.” He added, “Within three months, we have managed to pursue with the state government the creation of a Kalimpong district. The GJM is afraid of losing the people’s support. This is why they are trying to hijack the issue and creating disturbances.”

The Kalimpong MLA severed ties with the GJM in September after being forced to resign as a legislator by party chief Bimal Gurung. Chhetri maintains that neither he nor the other two MLAs from Darjeeling and Kurseong were taken into confidence on the resignation issue. Immediately after submitting his resignation from the party, Chhetri took up the Kalimpong district demand in the state Assembly and formed the KDDC. The police complaint of the KDDC only mentions political miscreants and does not point to the GJM. But Chhetri accused the ruling party of having a hand behind the bursting of firecrackers on Monday. “It is obvious that it was the handiwork of the GJM. It was expected of them and the district administration too was caught off guard,” he said over phone from Kolkata today.

The dharna, with a 13-point charter of demands, is being staged near Trikone Park in the heart of Kalimpong town, and today, it gained momentum as more than 60 people joined. Besides a separate district, the KDDC’s demands include jobs, water, panchayat elections and an end to corruption. Darjeeling SP Amit Javalgi said security cover near the dharna spot has been heightened and an inquiry initiated. “We received a complaint about some people bursting firecrackers near the place where the dharna is in progress. We did recover some firecrackers but the issue is not a very serious one. We have provided adequate security and also started an inquiry into the matter,” he said.

When reminded about the GJM president’s written statement that celebrations would be organised after the state cabinet gives its approval for a new Kalimpong district on December 18, the MLA said, “The GJM is trying to take credit for what it has not done. On December 18, the proposal for Kalimpong district will be placed before the state cabinet. Only after that will the process start. Let the GJM create a Kurseong district or a Mirik sub-division within three months. I will then admit I was wrong and give all credit to them,” he asserted. Along with Kalimpong, the GJM has also demanded that Darjeeling, Kurseong and Mirik, with adjoining areas of the Terai, be converted in to districts.

Kumar Chamling, the GJM Kalimpong branch secretary, said Chhetri’s allegations were fabricated. “A Kalimpong district will be good for all of us as we too want the same. We have strict orders from the party headquarters not to create any disturbances over the issue,” he said, when asked to comment.