Tamang follows Didi, starts tell-all number

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 03 Aug 2019, Darjeeling: The Binay Tamang camp of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on Friday launched a WhatsApp number for complaints, following in the steps of Mamata Banerjee's "Didi Ke Bolo (Tell Didi)" phone-and-Internet outreach initiative.

Party president Binay Tamang, however, pointed out that when was at the helm of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), he had started a similar WhatsApp complaint number for the hill body.

"When I was the chairman of the GTA for 18 months, I had started a similar initiative for the convenience of the general public. We had then received many grievances and we were able to address it," Tamang said on Friday.

The Morcha leader said a similar exercise had been started now and this would be a WhatsApp complaint number of the party. People can also post their messages on 6291482120.

"We want the people to be involved. We urge the public to post complaints (on the number), right from recruitment to quality of work, instead of posting on social media only," said Tamang.

There have been complaints on social media of irregularities in recent teacher employments and quality of various works undertaken by the GTA.

"We will conduct recruitment based on ability and merit," said Tamang adding that people could also post grievances over corruption, even if it is against party leaders or government employees.

"We will take up the matter within 24 hours," said Tamang, adding he had been able to curb corruption in the GTA during his stint.

Binay Tamang Ajoy Edwards, president of the GNLF's Darjeeling branch, appealed to people not to pay cut money. 

"We are hearing contractors have to give 10 percent to leaders of a political party, engineers take 5 per cent. We will stage dharans if such practice continues," Edwards had recently said. 

Tamang said irregularities had not come to his notice but added that he had focused on issues like recruitment because similar employment drive is likely to commence in the hills. 

"The Sub-ordinate Selection Board will be formed soon, there would be employment opportunities, people would also be employed in Darjeeling Hills University; prevention is better than cure," said Tamang.