JAP eye on Morcha cases

Photo Sunil Prasad

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, Oct. 23: The Jana Andolan Party that held its first public meeting in Darjeeling today announced a series of protests from next month, including a demonstration in front of Calcutta High Court demanding a proper investigation into "political murders".

The JAP that had been formed early this year announced programmes like gherao of the GTA headquarters, Lal Kothi, demonstrations in front of the Assembly, high court and Parliament on issues ranging from statehood to corruption in the GTA.

"Earlier, you (Bimal Gurung) had gheraoed Lal Kothi when Subash Ghisingh was at the helm. Now, time has come for you to face a similar situation," Harka Bahadur Chhetri, the president of JAP, told a gathering at Darjeeling Motor Stand.

The JAP has demanded an audit of the GTA through the comptroller and auditor general. "If the state fails to conduct an audit through the CAG by December 15, we will gherao Lal Kothi and make a representation at Nabanna. We are registering our party as All India Jana Andolan Party and soon, you will soon see it's all India nature," Chhetri said.

The meeting started at 11am and went on till 5pm.

"During the winter session, we will demonstrate in front of Parliament demanding introduction of the Gorkhaland Bill. We will also create pressure on the Darjeeling MP. We will demonstrate in front of the Assembly during the winter session to demand land rights for the hill people," Chhetri said. "There have been many political murders in the hills, right from the murder of C.K. Pradhan to Madan Tamang. We will wait till the last week of November for justice, failing which we will demonstrate before High Court."

A hearing on the Madan Tamang murder case is scheduled for November 4. Apart from Morcha leaders like Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri, Chhetri, too, has been named as an accused. Chhetri was with the Morcha when Tamang was murdered on May 21, 2010.

Today, JAP leaders Amar Lama, Anmole Prasad and others also addressed the crowd.

JAP announced a tea seminar here on December 15. Chhetri said: "We will raise the issue of NH10 and NH55 (repair) with the Centre and demand that Darjeeling municipality be upgraded to a corporation and the town be declared a heritage town."