Now, Thapa levels graft charges against Gurung : It is up to the people to decide if they wanted such a leader or someone who works for them in times of need- Thapa

REZA PRADHAN, SNS, DARJEELING, 9 JANUARY 21 : Leader of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (Binoy Tamang faction), Anit Thapa, today alleged that the leader of the other camp of the Morcha, Bimal Gurung, was involved in corruption during his tenure as the chief of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), while also heavily criticizing him.

The counter-allegations at a public meeting at the Motor Stand in Kalimpong were in response to a recent statement made by Mr Gurung that certain development work in Kalimpong had been pending despite funds being sanctioned for them. Mr Gurung had blamed Mr Thapa and Binoy Tamang for the same.

Without naming Mr Gurung, Mr Thapa said, "You had questioned development work for which the funds had been kept aside, but you had probably kept it aside yourself. You can even file an RTI on that."

Taking a jibe at him further, Mr Thapa added, " Had coconuts grown out of the coconuts you had broken while beginning different projects, people would have started a business of coconuts by now Now you say that you will do this when you come to power, but when you were in power you did nothing."

Mr Gurung had held a public meeting on the Kalimpong Mela ground just two days ago, in which he had criticised projects that were being inaugurated by Mr Thapa as the present chairman of the GTA.

On Mr Gurung's statements on the railway link being built between Sevoke near Siliguri and Rangpo in Sikkim, Mr Thapa said, "At that time, you had taken commission for it, along with many other things, but under us, work for it actually started and employment for many are being generated through it."

Mr Thapa also maintained that they will stick to their path and continue to support Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the benefit of the Hills ,while also reminding everyone that Mr Gurung had betrayed Miss Banerjee thrice and had a different stance for 2024.

Probably, also hinting the venue chosen by Mr Gurung for his public meeting was wrong, he said, "I did not hold a public meeting at the Mela Ground as I do not have to show or prove anything to anyone. We have already said that Mela Ground is a place for sports and it should not be made a political war zone where leaders criticise each other. I appeal to the administration to not grant permission for political programmes to be held there."

The Tamang camp general secretary also claimed that Mr Gurung was always found rebuking everyone, and said that it was up to the people to decide if they wanted such a leader or someone who works for them in times of need. With the public meeting of the Tamang camp coming close on the heels of the Gurung camp rally in Kalimpong, many are seeing it as a show of strength. Mr Thapa, however, claimed otherwise.

"Today's meeting is part of our programme of taking forward the message of change in the Hills and the mentality of the people. We want a change in the mindset people have of breaking things, scolding each other and tearing posters like they have done of mine at different places. I want clean politics, alongwith development of this area. My main aim is employment generation," he said.