Hill panel echoes Morcha on probe

TT, Aug. 20: The Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee today sought a probe into the Darjeeling blast and the Kalimpong attack by the National Investigation Agency and a "conducive atmosphere" for talks, echoing the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in a fresh hint that the panel was just toeing the line of the predominant hill party.

"We condemn the blasts in Kalimpong and Darjeeling. We believe it is a conspiracy to upset the ongoing democratic movement and demean the Gorkha population," a representative of the GMCC said after a three-and-a-half-hour meeting of the committee on the outskirts of Kalimpong town.

After Friday's blast and the police station attack the day after, Morcha leaders had spoken in a similar tone.

"We will also write to the Centre and the state government, requesting an NIA probe into the incidents. The truth should be revealed," the GMCC representative said, echoing what the Morcha had said yesterday.

The GMCC member also said the committee had requested the governments to create a "conducive atmosphere" in the hills for talks.

Political analysts said it had become clear that the GMCC couldn't take any decision that threatened to displease the Morcha.

"Leaders of some hill political parties have articulated their discontent against the unilateral moves by the Morcha. But not a single decision that can aggrieve the Morcha or its leaders has been taken by the GMCC even though it claims to be a common platform of as many as 14 organisations," an observer said.

After today's decision, the observer said, the Morcha's clout over the GMCC had been established. "It is beyond doubt that the Morcha and not the GMCC that has still the final say," he added.