GNLF to launch slew of protests against GTA election

EOI CORRESPONDENT DARJEELING, JUNE 9, 2022:   The Gorkha National Liberation Front party has said it would line up a slew of protest programmes against the decision of the West Bengal government to hold election to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration even as the matter has come up for hearing in the court. 

On Thursday, GNLF president Mann Ghisingh returned to Darjeeling after camping in Kolkata to expedite the court proceedings. 

"The matter of(GTA) is sub-judice because it is before the High Court. A hearing is scheduled on June 21. I am positive about the outcome," said Ghisingh. The GNLF leader was accompanied by party supporters in vehicles with black flags. 

"The black flag is symbolic. It is to say that dark days are ahead for the hills if election is held to the council body," said Ghisingh. 

Former GNLF president Subash Ghisingh, Mann's father, had filed a petition in the High Court challenging the constitutionality of the GTA.

"My father challenged the legality of the GTA. A case is pending in the High Court. Yet the State Government has decided to conduct the GTA election," said Ghisingh. 

The GNLF and other allies of the BJP like the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists and the All India Gorkha League have refused to participate in the GTA polls on June 26.The GNLF president said he would try to reach out to the people of the hills with the message of boycotting the election. 

"I will do everything in my capacity to reach out to the people in the remotest area.I will not stop," said Ghisingh. 

The Hamro Party on Thursday announced its election manifesto comprising 25 points which included UNESCO heritage status for the Neora Valley National Park in Kalimpong, improving and upgrading education, health and tourism sectors and working towards amending the GTA Act to transfer legislative powers to the GTA, among others.

"This is the first draft of our evolving manifesto. We also appeal to the citizens to send their inputs which we will include," said Hamro Party president Ajoy Edwards.