Harka sees plot in Morcha's strike call - MLA rally in Bijanbari on Jan 8

Rajeev Ravidas, TT, Kalimpong, Jan. 5: Harka Bahadur Chhetri today accused the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha of trying to foil a public meeting of the Kalimpong District Demand Committee and its allies in Bijanbari on January 8 by calling a chakka jam (transport strike) in the area that day.

"That is their intent. The Morcha is basically scared," Chhetri said when asked if the chakka jam was an attempt to foil the public meeting to be organised jointly by the committee, Darjeeling-Dooars United Development Foundation (headed by former Sikkim University vice-chancellor Mahendra P. Lama) and Parcha-Patta Demand Committee.

The district demand committee, whose chief co-ordinator is the Kalimpong MLA, has called the meeting at Bijanbari in Darjeeling subdivision, 35km from Darjeeling, as part of his efforts to float a new political party. The Chunthung, Marybong and Tamsang unit of the Morcha had announced the chakka jam yesterday in support of its demand for upgrading Bijanbari block to a subdivision.

The Kalimpong MLA, however, said by announcing the chakka jam, the Morcha had shown its true character. "This is the kind of democracy and Gandhian principles the Morcha practices. Let them hold their programme, we will go ahead and hold ours. The public should know the true colours of the Morcha," he said.

Chhetri, who had quit the Morcha in mid-September last year, is credited with being instrumental in convincing the state government to announce that Kalimpong would be upgraded from a subdivision to a district. Ever since, the MLA has been rallying supporters for launching a new party. Parcha-Patta Demand Committee has been formed to demand land rights for residents of tea and cinchona plantations in the hills.

Chhetri had announced earlier that his party would be floated by January 10. However, he said yesterday that the date of the party's launch would be announced on January 10.

Saran Lama, the secretary of the Morcha's Chunthung, Marybong and Tamsang unit, said his party has been demanding the upgrade of Bijanbari block to a subdivision since the day the state government announced its decision to form Kalimpong district and Mirik subdivision on December 18.

"We live in a democracy and they are welcome to hold their programme. We had discussed holding the chakka jam during our public meeting here in Bijanbari on January 3 and announced the same yesterday. We were not aware of Harka Sir's programme here, but we are a tolerant lot and they can hold the programme, and we will have ours," he said.

Lama said the Morcha has been campaigning extensively in the area to achieve its objective and the chakka jam was part of its ongoing programme. "If Mirik which has only six gram panchayats can be upgraded to a subdivision, Bijanbari with 23 gram panchayats deserves it more. The issue being espoused by us enjoys widespread support in our area. This will be demonstrated during our chakka jam programme," he said.

Dominant political parties in the hills had announced programmes in the past to stop rivals from staging their event. ABGL president Madan Tamang was hacked to death allegedly by Morcha supporters on May 21, 2010, before the start of his party's public meeting in Darjeeling.

The ABGL was originally scheduled to hold the party meeting at Chowk Bazar in Darjeeling, but changed the venue to Club Side at the last minute because of fears that the Morcha would disrupt the meeting at Chowk Bazar.