MPs’ visit to Hills cancelled

The proposed visit of the Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on home affairs to asses the situation of the Darjeeling Hills in relation with its anticipated inclusion in the Sixth Schedule has been called off.

“The standing committee has officially conveyed to the state government that the scheduled visit has been cancelled,” the Darjeeling district magistrate (DM), Mr Rajesh Pandey, said.

He also said that he was unaware of the reasons why the visit had been called off. The cancellation of the standing committee visit has left the Opposition parties fuming in the Darjeeling Hills.

“I have spoken to a PSC member who said that the state government had forced them to cancel the visit citing law and order problem. But everybody knows that it is not so,” Mr Madan Tamang, president, All India Gorkha League (AIGL) said.

The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) is also furious with the decision. “This is the outcome of a conspiracy plotted by the chief minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, and the GNLF chief, Mr Subhash Ghising,” Mr Tamang, the GJMM Press and publicity secretary, said over phone.

“But we would not allow them to destroy the public mandate for a separate Gorkhaland state,” Mr Tamang added.

To protest against this ‘conspiracy,’ the GJMM workers would launch an indefinite huger strike from 7 February.

The agitation would simultaneously commence in front of the administrative offices in Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Mirik and Siliguri.

“Moreover, from 8 February, our activists would gherao Lalkhuti (DGHC headquarters), which would continue till Mr Ghising is dislodged,” Mr Tamang said.