GNLF says it will contest all polls, but cripple GTA

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 22 Jul 2019, Darjeeling: The GNLF on Sunday said it would contest "all upcoming elections" but would "paralyse" the GTA if the party won the hill body.

The GNLF has also decided to start a campaign against "cut money" being allegedly taken by "political leaders and engineers" and press for an inquiry against "former MLAs and leaders" who have "disproportionate assets" in metros and Darjeeling town. After holding a party meeting, Ajoy Edwards, the new president of the Darjeeling branch committee of the GNLF, said: "Our party will contest all elections right from degree colleges. However, in the event of our win to a body which the hill people do not want, we will paralyse itHe was referring to the GTA when he mentioned "a body which the hill people do not want".

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Sandip Limbu, the spokesman for the GNLF's Darjeeling branch, said: "On winning elections to that body (GTA), we will not take salaries or other benefits. We will paralyse the body. Our elected members will not resign either." Edwards said the GNLF would make corruption a major issue.

"We appeal to people not to give cut money. We are hearing that contractors have to give 10 per cent to leaders of a political party, engineers take 5 per cent. We will stage dharnas if such practices continue," said Edwards.

The party said Darjeeling BJP MP Raju Bista had been requested to urge the Union finance minister to start an income tax and vigilance inquiry against "former MLAs and political leaders" on "disproportionate assets". Former MLAs and political leaders have bungalows, flats and shops…right from Calcutta to Darjeeling. We want an inquiry into their source of income," said Edwards.

Binay address Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Binay Tamang addressed the Trinamul Congress's martyr's day in Calcutta in Nepali and said Bengal and India should respect hill martyrs. "Martyrs have no religion, no caste, their sacrifice is for the future. We also observe (Gorkhaland) martyrs' day on July 27 and we want Bengal and India to respect the martyrs in the hills," said Tamang..