Nod denied for Tamang Delhi event

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 08 Oct 2018, Darjeeling: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Binay Tamang couldn't mark the party's foundation day in Delhi on Sunday as police had purportedly refused permission to hold an indoor programme citing possible law and order problems.

A livid Tamang said he would hold a public meeting of the party in Delhi after a few days, even if permission was denied, and vowed to defeat the BJP in north Bengal in the next parliamentary elections.

Speaking over the phone from Delhi, Tamang said: "We had planned to mark our party's foundation day today (Sunday). However, the police, under direction from the (Union) ministry of home affairs, declined permission at the last moment." Tamang forwarded a letter from the office of deputy commissioner of police, South, which was reportedly sent to Morcha leaders in Delhi from Hauz Khas police station late on Saturday evening.

The letter reads: ".....in view of law and order and other commitments of local police on 07.10.2018, the same could not be acceded to from law and order point of view." The function was to be held at NCUI Auditorium & Convention Centre at Kranti Marg from 1pm.

"We had planned a two hour political event followed by a cultural show till 5pm today," said Tamang who alleged that Morcha supporters were asked to vacate the hall.

On Sunday, members of the Gorkhaland Sanyukta Sangharsh Samity (GSSS) based in Delhi were seen before the venue in black dresses and with photographs of those killed in the last phase of the Gorkhaland agitation. A member of the GSSS in a social media post said they had come to ask Tamang a few questions.

Tamang accused Darjeeling MP S.S. Ahluwalia of orchestrating the entire episode in Delhi. "Some people had tried to show me black flags at the (Delhi) airport yesterday (Saturday) but since a large number of our supporters were there, they could not do so." "I have information that S.S. Ahluwalia played a pivotal role. We, too, will ensure that the BJP is wiped out from north Bengal in the next Lok Sabha elections," he added.

Effigies of Ahluwalia were burnt in Darjeeling after news spread the Delhi programme couldn't be conducted.

The Darjeeling MP didn't take calls.