With Gurung, Opp’s right to speak at stake!

DARJEELING, Nov. 7: The Hills Opposition would be deprived of the right to speak their minds from tommorrow according to a Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha fiat alleging that these parties misused the liberty by influencing the people against GJMM.

“The parties have taken advantage of our leniency and have been making serious allegations against us. Just as I closed the all-party chapter in the Hills, I declare that they should not be allowed to make any comment from tomorrow,” party president Mr. Bimal Gurung said in a public meeting to conclude the month-long cultural programme today.

In the same context AIGL president Mr. Madan Tamang was asked to heighten his security as the 7 November-deadline to prove the authenticity of his allegation against the GJMM's secret meeting with the state home secretary, Mr. AM Chakraborty, had arrived. “In the 16 month duration before March, 2010, a lot needs to be done. We will start by removing these obstacles. Madan Tamang has give evidence by 6 p.m. or face the consequences”, he said. This is the second instance the GJMM leadership has issued such a statement after the vice-president, Mr. Pradeep Pradhan, declared banning political activities of Hills Opposition recently.

This time though the students will take the cudgels against “detractor parties” posing as hurdles to the Gorkhaland movement. “The future of these children is at stake. The leaders will meet a worse fate than Ghisingh if they speak”, the leader said. Tomorrow around 15,000 students participating in a rally to caution the “agents of Bengal” will route through AIGL office on Ladenla Road.

The Opposition parties have refuted the GJMM's authority to curtail their fundamental rights. "We are entitled to freedom of speech by the constitution. Mr. Gurung is nobody to direct us in this regard”, CPRM general-secretary Mr. RB. Rai said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Madan Tamang took up the issue with the director of the National Human Rights Commission who is currently in town. “We apprised them on the undemocratic ways of the GJMM, the absence of writ of administration in the Hills with factual evidences from newspapers. They have reviewed the matter seriously and will convene a meeting once the team returns to Delhi tomorrow”, he said.

In another development, tender for contracts and development works will not be floated in offices from tomorrow to prevent the youth against diverting from the Gorkhaland movement. Consequently, DGHC offices will remain closed from tomorrow. “Youth make a beeline in offices serving tenders. Henceforth, Nari Morcha will keep a strict vigil on the offices”, Mr. Gurung said. DGHC casual workers are on a pen down strike demanding regularisation.