GNLF, JAP raise voice against mob frenzy

Dwaipayan Ghosh | TNN | Jun 29, 2017: DARJEELING: The unprovoked torching of government buildings and panchayat offices - for which no one is taking responsibility - has come as a bother for the local parties ahead of the all-Hills party meeting at Kalimpong on Thursday. Leaders feel mob frenzy is dominating the Hills and the GJM or other parties simply can't restrain it.

The Jan Andolan Party has taken serious note of the violence and will raise the issue once again at the meeting. "We put a condition in the last meeting that the movement should take a non-violent, democratic route. Our general secretary will reiterate the stand and also add JAP will unilaterally withdraw from the movement if there's a single instance of violence in future," JAP leader Harka Bahadur Chhetri said.

GNLF, the other partner in the Gorkhaland stir, is also annoyed with the GJM's calling the shots when the all-party meeting has been called to carve out the future course. "The fight today has gained broader dimension. It is not related to a single party, anymore. No party is in a position to dictate terms because people are coming out on the streets without party flags for the Gorkhaland cause," said GNLF president Mann Ghising.

The GNLF president is also worried with certain trends in the present movement. "My father (Subash Ghising) always fought for Hills unity. What is happening now is divisive politics. We are shocked at the communal turn of events in the plains. We should send out the signal that we are not anti-Bengali," Ghising said. GNLF also wants a collective leadership to emerge from the all-party meet on June 29. "People in the Hills need a breather. One party (GJM) can't just continue with the bandh indefinitely," a GNLF leader said. When asked if the party will be asking for calling off the bandh at the all-party meet, the GNLF leader said: "We didn't give the bandh call. GJM gave the call, and it is up to them to deal with it. We will stick to our non-violent and democratic protests," the GNLF leader said.

Even CPRM is likely to take note of the torching of government offices in the Hills. "We will discuss the matter in the meeting," CPRM spokesperson Govind Chhetri said.

The other Hills parties aren't banking on the Narendra Modi government just like the GJM. "The state government has no role in formation of a separate state. The Centre has been playing with the Hills people for all these days. We should thus get ready for a protracted movement for our justified cause - Gorkhaland," said Harka Bahadur Chhetri.

(Source & Courtesy: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/gnlf-jap-raise-voice-against-mob-frenzy/articleshow/59361803.cms)