Defiant Tamang writes to Rajnath

TT, Calcutta, Sept. 3: Binay Tamang today wrote to Union home minister Rajnath Singh requesting a response over the current situation in the hills, giving a clear indication that he will not take his expulsion from the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha lying down.

"Sir, I have been appointed as the chief coordinator of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha party, to deal with the present situation in Darjeeling hills... I have the honour to request you to kindly make correspondence as deemed necessary pertaining to the current situation of the hills as I am the authorised representative of the party in this regard," Tamang wrote.

A day after announcing a relaxation of the indefinite strike, Tamang and another leader, Anit Thapa, had been expelled from the Morcha.

"Of the 93 central committee members, only Bimal Gurung, Kalyan Dewan, D.K. Pradhan, Jyoti Kumar Rai, P.T. Ola and Tilak Chand Roka, were present at the meeting. No showcause notice was issued to me and no explanation sought before removing me. I will go to the court on this issue if needed," Tamang stated in the letter.

Tamang said the state government should also invite other Morcha leaders to the September 12 talks, trying to contest allegations that he was hand in glove with the administration and trying to float a new party.

The expelled leader today stressed that he would neither form a new party nor join any other. He, however, accused Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri and "two or three others" of conspiring to remove him from the party.

Tamang said he would soon expose a few Morcha leaders and their properties.