Stall-growth march in hills

Kurseong, Nov. 28: Around 150 people owing allegiance to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today gheraoed the Kurseong municipal office, ruled by the outfit, and snatched an assurance from the chairman that all development work would be stopped for the time being.

The agitators, who came together under the banner of the Gorkha Janmukti Joint Action Committee that was formed yesterday, started marching to the office from Kurseong motor stand around 11am. The protesters shouted slogans that what they had wanted was Gorkhaland, not development.

The demonstrators, on reaching the office, demanded that two projects, which the civic body was about to implement, should be stopped immediately. One project — entailing a cost of Rs 12 crore — envisages the construction of sewerage for 20 wards. The other is for 565 BPL families which will be given houses.

“The various development works being carried out by the civic body are only diverting the people’s attention from the main cause for which the party was formed. The image of the party is also at stake. We want the civic chairman to give in writing that all projects will be stopped,” said Pappu Thapa, a member of the committee.

“The people living in panchayats have sacrificed everything for the cause of Gorkhaland and those in the municipal areas should follow suit. We will not move from here unless the chairman gives an assurance to this effect,” said Thapa.

He said the committee had not got approval from the Morcha and it had people representing panchayat areas.

The gherao finally got over around 12:45pm after the chairman, Krishna Limbu, had given in writing that all development work would be stopped for the time being. He wrote: “Further decision on the issue will be taken after holding discussion with Bimal Gurung (Morcha chief).”

Later, the chairman told reporters that the housing project was being implemented for the first time in Kurseong and if it was halted, it would be a loss for the people. “We are yet to receive funds for the sewerage project, but tenders have been issued.”

Roshan Giri, the general sectary of the Morcha, said he did not know that there was such an outfit.