The Jana Andolan Party today took to the streets in support of
Gorkhaland and condemned alleged atrocities by state police on the
people of the hills, including the raids on Bimal Gurung's house and his
party office.
The Harka Bahadur Chhetri-led JAP also sought to corner the BJP, by
asking it to come good on its promise to fulfil the aspirations of the
Gorkhas.
A group of JAP activists held a silent
demonstration in front of Kalimpong police station for little over
half-an-hour, holding placards in support of Gorkhaland and assailing
the state government for the alleged police atrocities.
Chhetri, who also took part in the demonstration, held a placard which read: "I support Gorkhaland. Arrest me."
Another placard asked: "Is the state government above law? Does the law not apply to it?"
Speaking to reporters earlier, the JAP president said the manner in
which the police had conducted raids on the house of Morcha president
Bimal Gurung and his party office yesterday was not acceptable,
especially since he was also the chief executive of the GTA elected by
the people of the hills.
"The JAP very strongly opposes the manner in which the state
government used the police administration (in conducting raids on
Gurung's house in Patlebas, near Darjeeling town)... we feel great
injustice and excesses have taken place...Arrows, khukris, furrows and
spades were recovered," he said.
Chhetri cautioned the state government against using the might of the
police force to suppress the demand for Gorkhaland. "The demand for
Gorkhaland is a constitutional demand, and it has to be met
constitutionally...This is not something which will be resolved by using
the police. If the police keep conducting raids, the people may keep
quiet for some time, but eventually it will only strengthen their
resolve for Gorkhaland...It is the responsibility of the state and the
central governments to initiate steps towards forming Gorkhaland (to
resolve the problem once and for all)," he said.
Chhetri fired off a letter to BJP president Amit Saha on the present
situation in the hills, reminding him of his party's promise to solve
the problems of the Gorkhas, on the basis of which the people of the
hills elected two BJP members as MPs. "These long-pending problems can
only be solved by the creation of a separate state...The time has now
come to for the BJP to make good on those promises," he said.
Chhetri said for starters, the BJP should adopt a political resolution in favour of Gorkhaland through its national executive.
"All other political and legislative steps flow from this crucial resolution to be first taken by your party."
The JAP president, however, said his party was yet to take a call on
joining other hills-based parties for a joint movement for Gorkhaland.
"We have set certain conditions, and are awaiting the response from the
Morcha. Once we get them, our national bureau will meet and take a
decision," he said.(TT)
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