Morcha irked with hill MP

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Mar 16, 2018, Darjeeling: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on Thursday lambasted BJP Darjeeling MP S.S. Ahluwalia and questioned his role of a parliamentarian in his constituency.

The immediate trigger seems to be Ahluwalia's decision to write to Union home minister Rajnath Singh, demanding investigation into a purported phone conversation between a police officer and a resident of Ging where the latter was allegedly threatened that his house would be burnt and family members raped if he acted over smart.

Alok Kant Mani Thulung, the president of the Morcha's Darjeeling subdivision, said: "We thank Ahluwalia for showing his concern on the phone issue. He has at least shown some concern now. However, where was he during the 104-day bandh, why could he not utter a single word then?"

There has been growing disillusionment over Ahluwalia and BJP's role in the recent agitation.

"The biggest issue for the people of Darjeeling is Gorkhaland. Why does he not even raise this issue in Parliament or even write to other ministers for the demand. When he was just an MP, he could have come up with a private bill . He is now a minister. Let him resign as a minister and then place a private bill on Gorkhaland," said Thulung.

Ministers usually do not come up with a private bill.

The Darjeeling MP was also castigated for saying that he had won the seat not only because of the Darjeeling votes.

"He has been saying in the media that he also won with the votes from the plains and we want to know the investment that he has bought in the hills. We are hearing that funds were given to Kanchenjungha Public School, which has come up illegally. This too must be investigated," said Thulung.

"Has he been an MP only to save Bimal Gurung or to work the people here," said Thulung adding

"He has adopted a model village in Naxalbari but what has he done for the hills?"

The Morcha leader said by maintaining a working relation with the state government, investment to the tune of Rs 1500 crore had been promised for Darjeeling during the business meet.

"What investment has he brought to the hills?" asked Thulung.

Thulung said that MP was only trying to stoke emotions without doing anything concrete for the hills.

" He is only trying to stir the emotions of the people but has done nothing concrete for the hills," said Thulung.

In a message to social media users, Thulung said: "It is surprising that the video clip has emerged 20 days later and that, too, just before the business meet. Was an attempt made to derail the business meet. Facebook is not a platform to demand Gorkhaland. We are working at ground zero and trying to help the people who have suffered a lot.

"We are trying to create a situation where Gorkhaland can be demanded in a democratic manner," said Thulung.