Citizens’ Forum denied police permission to hold public meeting in Darjeeling

EOI, DARJEELING, DECEMBER 16, 2022 : The Citizens’ Forum (CF), a non-political organization which was set to organize a public meeting this Sunday has put their programme on hold after not getting permission from the authorities.

The CF which has Mahendra P. Lama as one of its main members had recently maintained that the organization was to take the shape of a political outfit soon with him also adding that the constitution of the party had also been formed.

“We are keeping on hold the public meeting scheduled to be held on December 18th at Chowk Bazar, due to us not receiving permission from the police. We had however received permission from the Darjeeling Municipality. 

The police administration did not give us permission, maintaining that there would be traffic hassles and we respect what they have to say as they have to do their work,” said Swaraj Thapa, CF member. 

“We have been holding indoor meetings, but we wanted to take our issue in front of the public. There are other ways which we can do like door to door or visiting villages. We will have a meeting among ourselves on the 17th of this month and chalk out our future course of actions,” said Thapa.

One of the main issues that is being taken forward by the CF is the demand of statehood along with them also claiming that issues of tea garden, forest village, adivasis, among other things will also betaken forward by them.

Apart from the formation of the constitution they have also formed the sub-committees inside with the respective people to be appointed soon.