K'pong group to go to apex court over rural polls

SNS, KALIMPONG, 1 APRIL 2018: The Kalimpong Krishak Kalyan Sangathan (KKKS) has said it would knock the Supreme court's doors against the government's decision to exclude the Hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong from the general panchayat elections to be held in May. It also said that KKKS members would soon hit the streets in protest against the Trinamul Congress' policies.

The state election commission yesterday issued a notification for the polls that will be held in three phases across the state. The modification, however, does not mention the Hills, where such elections have not been held for the past 18 years.

The KKKS is an organisation fighting for the rights of farmers and it has been demanding that the people in the Hills be given the right to the several government facilities through the local governance system.

The KKKS had recently claimed that it had received a letter from the Chairman of the Petition Committee' of the Rajya Sabha, Prabhat Jha, a month ago, urging the state to conduct the panchayat elections in the Hills as soon as possible.

"However, the Hills find no mention in the 20 districts, where the elections have been announced," KKKS general secretary Bishnu Chettri said here yesterday. 

"Ignoring the Hills for such important elections is violation of the constitution's provisions," he added.

Neglecting Darjeeling and Kalimpong shows their (West Bengal government) outlook towards the Hills. Moreover, we cannot ignore the fact that the voices of villagers are very important," Mr Chettri said. "If panchayat elections are to be conducted,Darjeeling and Kalimpong should be included, i f not, the polls should not be held anywhere," he argued.

According to him, his organisation has decided to go up in arms against the "TMC"s ideologies."