Trinamool punch for GJM, state party decide meetings across hills

Every party has the right to hold their programmes says Deb

Darjeeling March 31: Daring the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) the state ruling party Trinamool Congress in its effort to make its presence felt in the hills has announced that it will hold a public rally in all the three hill sub-division, the first one being in Kalimpong in April 7 or 8 where its party general secretary Mukul Roy is expected to attend. The Trinamool amidst tight security held a meeting with its hill leaders at Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Bhawan in Darjeeling today chaired by Trinamool heavy weight and North Bengal Development Minister Gautam Deb. Deb handed out the Trinamool flag to former All India Gorkha League (AIGL) general secretary Manoj Dewan and J.B. Tamang the Janmukti Unorganized labour Union convenor both of whom joined the party today. Along with Dewan and Tamang forty eight members mostly from the AIGL and GJM joined the Trinamool.

“The motive of the meeting is to bring back democracy in the hills where every political party has the right to perform their activities. It is the constitutional right of any individual to opt any political party and choose their own leader,” Deb told reporters after the meeting.  

The meeting in the heart of the town is the first ever from the Trinamool given the GJM’s tirade in the hills that has not allowed any anti-Morcha parties to hold any sort of meeting in the hills.  The TMC however said that it is not ready to accept from now on any tyranny of the GJM in the hills and will work towards attaining democracy.

The Trinamool-GJM relationship, it may be mentioned, is in a bitter note as of now after Mamata Bannerjee, the Trinamool chief and Bengal Chief Minister openly spoke against the sensitive issue of Gorkhaland in a government programme. TheTrinamool, despite the GJM blushing to start a militant agitation however would not give up. 

Deb remarked, “With the joint effort from the people of hills, GTA and the state government an all round development can be done in the hills. We want peace and prosperity in the region but at no cost will tolerate the atrocity towards our supporters in the hills”.

Dev proposed to convert the Darjeeling government college into a university, a Medical College in Kurseong and an engineering College in Kalimpong. A new circuit house will soon be inaugurated in Kurseong according to Deb. “In the year 2011-12, the hills have allotted Rs.31 crores for development. The government has already sanctioned Rs. 8 crore for the drinking water problem in all the municipalities. Talks are on to reopen the closed tea garden in the hills,” he added.