Bista faces protests in ally backyard

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 10 September 2019, Darjeeling: Darjeeling BJP MP Raju Bista was on Monday confronted by black flag-waving Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Binay Tamang camp) supporters who held him up for four hours at Tukvar, the native place of ally Bimal Gurung.

This is the first time the MP, who was on way to nearby Singla to hold a party meeting, faced protests in Darjeeling. Leaders of the Binay-Anit Thapa camp had organised the protests, alleging the MP was "trying to disturb" the peace in the area.

During elections, Bista had not faced any protests. The BJP candidate was supported by the Morcha's Gurung camp, GNLF, Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists, Gorkhaland Rajya Nirman Morcha and other parties.

"The Binay-Anit camp lost the Darjeeling Lok Sabha and Darjeeling Assembly by-elections. But they are probably trying to send a message across the hills that they still have support. The fact that Bista is raising issues in Parliament and visiting his constituency frequently must have rattled the Binay-Anit camp," said an observer.

Bista alleged that a group of "40-50 drunk youths held him hostage by indulging in drama". The Binay camp leaders admitted they had stopped Bista and said this was to "prove" the "unity in Tukvar among party cadres and public." Bista said: "About 50 people of Binay group and Anit group are creating drama and have virtually detained me. I had informed the police yesterday about the possibility of such an incident. The police force is here, I am also in touch with SP but I feel that the police are involved in the entire fiasco." 

The Binay Tamang camp leaders of the Morcha said that Bista's visit to Tukvar would "disturb peace in the area." 

Nirmal Chhetri, president of the Binay camp in Tukvar said: "He has no work to be here. Of the six booths in the area where he is visiting, he lost in five booths. He has no mandate here and is also coming here with empty hands." Bista won the Darjeeling seat by a margin of over 4 lakh votes.

The Binay camp accused Bista of allegedly failing on his election promises. "During election he talked about Gorkhaland but he is quiet now, he said he would bring Bimal Gurung, he is quiet on this too. When Ladhak was given union territory status, he was silent," alleged Chhetri.

"We want to say that unity is strong in Tukvar, among party cadres and public. We wanted to give this message," said Chhetri adding that Bista's presence in Tukvar would "only breach peace".

Around 4 pm the blockade was removed after police intervened. Amarnath K, SP, Darjeeling, could not be immediately contacted.

Tourist death 

Harinder Singh Sidhu and Gurpeet Singh aged around 40 and residents of Faridkot in Punjab, died when their bike was hit by a car at Laborbotey on Monday.