MP dares Binay to contest polls

TT, Siliguri: Darjeeling MP S.S. Ahluwalia on Thursday tossed a challenge at Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Binay Tamang, asking him to contest at the next Parliament elections and prove his popularity.

The Union minister of state also asked chief minister Mamata Banerjee as why the state government was not conducting polls to the GTA.

"If Binay Tamang enjoys good support and has popularity in the hills, I challenge him to contest the upcoming Parliament elections and prove it. If he contests, there is no need for a person like me to face him. Anybody from the BJP will defeat him," said the MP.

While Ahluwalia was here on a visit last week, Morcha supporters had stood near Bagdogra airport and waved black flags as his vehicle moved to the airport. They also shouted "go back" slogans. Also, anti-Ahluwalia posters were put across the hills.

The Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha leaders who had a meeting here earlier this week said they would hit the streets if the MP planned to visit the hills.

"These are insignificant issues and we are not much perturbed. I would like to know why the chief minister, who has put nominated persons in the GTA, is not taking steps to conduct elections. There should be an elected body in the GTA. The elections are not being held because they will have to go to people for a mandate. An impartial election will prove whether they have mass support at all," added the MP.

He also took a dig at the district police officers of Darjeeling and Kalimpong for not letting his party carry the "Asthi Kalash" of AB Vajpayee to the hills.

"We had planned to put the 'Asthi Kalash' at Chowrasta in Darjeeling and at a venue in Kalimpong. However, our requests were turned down on flimsy grounds. It is unfortunate that people of the hills were deprived of a chance to pay homage to the former Prime Minister. We feel it is a political decision," said Ahluwalia.

On Friday, he said, a rally would be conducted from Baghajatin Park of Siliguri to carry the ashes of Vajpayee to the Mahananda river for immersion.

Binay Tamang could not be contacted. Calls and messages made to him went unanswered.