Different strokes of no-GTA-poll parties : 17 participants were present at the silent rally opposing the GTA elections

Darjeeling has currently become a hill of confusion with parties not in favour of elections to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) reacting differently

The rally taken out by the Bharatiya Gorkha Suraksha Parishad in Darjeeling on Thursday in protest against the upcoming GTA elections.

Vivek Chhetri   |   TT  |  Darjeeling   |   27.05.22 :  Darjeeling has currently become a hill of confusion with parties not in favour of elections to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) reacting differently.

The Mamata Banerjee government has scheduled the GTA polls for next month.

The Bharatiya Gorkha Suraksha Parishad (BGSP), a newly formed party in Darjeeling hills, took out a rally — albeit a poorly attended one — in Darjeeling town on Thursday with a no-election-to-GTA narrative.

The BGSP’s stand might sound similar to Bimal Gurung’s Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which, too, does not want elections to GTA until its two major demands — implementation of the 2011 GTA memorandum of agreement is applied in letter and spirit and 396 mouzas from Dooars and Terai — are included within the GTA.

Gurung is currently on day two of his “indefinite hunger strike” to press for the party’s demands.

However, BGSP members said their demands were different. The BGSP wants the state government to waive people’s outstanding electricity dues during the period of the Gorkhaland agitation, audit the GTA accounts, compensate the kin of Gorkhaland martyrs and withdraw political cases against Gorkhaland activists, among others.

Asked if they would stop opposing the GTA elections if their demands are met, BGSP founding member S.P. Sharma replied in the affirmative.

“Our stand of opposing the GTA elections is different from Bimal Gurung’s,” said Sharma who however had gone to express solidarity to Gurung at the latter’s fasting site on Wednesday evening.

Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) also issued a statement on Thursday. The BGP said they were against the GTA while “Gurung did not oppose the GTA per se”.

“We have been opposing the GTA since its inception as we believe that the body does not represent the aspirations of the hill people,” said Munish Tamang, national president of the BGP.

The BGSP on Wednesday said that the number of participants at their Thursday rally would reflect whether the parties opposing the GTA elections were sincere.

A mere 17 participants were present at the silent rally that started from the Darjeeling railway station and ended at the district magistrate’s office.

Asked about the low turnout, Sharma alleged that rumours had been spread that permission for the rally had not been granted. “We have a recorded audio clip that suggests that these rumours were spread. Also, people fear going against the state government,” said Sharma.

Courtesy & source