GJM calls for boycott of upcoming elections
DARJEELING: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on Tuesday burnt copies of the tripartite Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) accord at several places in Darjeeling hills and called for a boycott of the upcoming elections to the semiautonomous body, scaling up its statehood agitation.
“Today we conducted the funeral of the GTA accord. After today, no one will utter the word GTA. We are appealing to all parties not to participate if the state government wants to hold elections to the GTA. If anyone contests, he will do so at his own risk,” said GJM assistant secretary Binay Tamang.
Copies of the accord, signed on July 18, 2011, between the Centre, the West Bengal government and the GJM, leading to the formation of the semi-autonomous body to rule the hills, were gutted at several places in Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Mirik, Gorubathan and at least at a couple of places in the Dooars at 11.19am, a time believed to be auspicious by morcha president Bimal Gurung.
Thousands of supporters took to the streets. Though the agitators also had plans to burn copies at Pintail village, where the agreement was signed in presence of then Union home minister P Chidambaram, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Gurung, security forces occupied the place in large numbers, thwarting their move.
Police were on high alert to prevent the situation from spinning out of control. Two IPS officers led police patrols in Darjeeling. It was the 13th day of the indefinite bandh called by GJM in the hills.
“This is not the way to carry on an agitation. The people will have the last word,” tourism minister Goutam Deb told a TV channel in his initial reaction.
Several morcha supporters stood bare-bodied on the streets while other smashed tubelights on their backs. This was the first instance when GJM adopted such a gory method of protest.
“The ongoing movement has become a mass movement and it is not under the control of Bimal Gurung. GJM is not responsible for the damage of government properties and vehicles, including that of opposition leaders and supporters,” said Binita Roka, GJM spokesperson.
Elections to the GTA are due in July, when the term of the semi-autonomous body will end.
GOVT ORDERS PROBE
The state government decided to hold a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into the deaths of morcha supporters allegedly in firing by the security forces in Singamari, Darjeeling on June 17.
Mamata Banerjee denied the police opened fire on that day and described the allegations as “absolutely false.”