JAP walks after party event nod denied

SNS, 27 January Kalimpong: The Jan Andolan Party today marked its 4th Foundation Day by organizing a 16-km walk from Delo to Durpin in Kalimpong town and visiting all religious institutions in the town.

The decision to mark the day in such a manner followed the district ad ministration's decision to not allow permission to the party to organize its political programmes. It is learnt that the police denied permission to organize a rally a mass gathering in the town to mark the day.

Party president Dr Harka Badhur Chettri said they had to change their programmes at the last hour after the police cited an examination of the food and supplies department, where forces had been deployed, as the reason for the denial of permission.

"It is okay to walk from Delo to Durpin and meet people on the way We will visit all religious places and also pray that the standard of politics here improves... it is made pure, Dr Chettri said as the party group stopped at Hanuman Temple near Delo in the morning.

He added that they will walk and meet people as that way they can identity people's problems and know their condition, "similar to what Gandhi did during the Dandi march."

" Unless we come in contact with the people in villages, we won't be able to know their problems ," he said.

Asked to comment on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, where there is a demand to a local candidate, Chettri said that a local face is not enough if their high command belongs to the Centre or the state,

"A candidate should have a high command in the Hills, only then our demand will be raised in the parliament he said, questioning if Shanta Chettri (Rajya Sabha MP) or any local face have been able speak in the parliament so far.

It may be mentioned that Dr Chettri is the former Member of Legislative Assembly of Kalimpong. Asked if he was eligible to be the Hill candidate for the Lok Sabha elections, he said people knew his capacity and the developments he had done when he was in power, and "this could be enough for the people to consider me."

Meanwhile, Naresh Rai, the spokesperson of the youth wing of the JAP said they have started a campaign 'Walk with Harka to parliament for Gorkhaland' for idea of which is solely to get in touch with the people," as it is the people who play a vital role during elections."

It is learnt that the campaign will also be had at various places like Darjeeling and Siliguri in the days to come.

A police source confirmed that the permission was denied due to the Food and Supplies Department exams. "We did not grant them permission because it is not appropriate to hold rallies and use loudspeakers when examinations are going on," the source said.