BGPM announces peace rally on May 14 amid GTA gherao call

REZA PRADHAN

DARJEELING,: In response to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s (GJM) proposed gherao of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) headquarters, Lalkothi, on May 14, the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) has announced a simultaneous “shanti yatra” in Darjeeling on the same day.

While BGPM president Anit Thapa defended the initiative as a countermeasure to prevent possible unrest in the Hills during the Morcha’s programme, political observers believe it could also be seen as a show of strength following the party’s recent poll defeat.

The GJM has called the gherao alleging corruption in the BGPM-run GTA.

Speaking on Thursday, BGPM president Anit Thapa said, “We respect the victory of the BJP in the recently concluded polls as the people voted for them, but we do not want such activities like gheraos to take place here as they can lead to the kind of violence witnessed in the Hills in the past.”

“We have brought peace to the Hills after a great struggle and it should remain so. We should try to stop such activities from taking place so that the situation does not take a wrong turn like in 2017, when the Hills were disturbed and buildings were torched. Before such a thing takes place, we should try and stop it. Fear will rise among people and they will not come out of their houses. It is the duty of leaders to prevent such situations before they arise,” Thapa said, adding that his party would not allow such unrest.

Thapa, who is also the GTA chief executive, said that if the government wanted to hold an enquiry into the alleged corruption in the GTA, it was welcome to do so from the time the body was formed in 2011. He also said that the Morcha chief should write to the government on the matter instead of organising such programmes.

He said the BGPM’s peace rally would begin from Darjeeling Railway Station on May 14. The Morcha, meanwhile, has asked supporters to gather at Chowrasta before proceeding with the gherao programme at Lalkothi.

On Darjeeling MP Raju Bista’s claim that the GTA could be dissolved, Thapa said, “If the GTA is dissolved, there has to be a replacement for it. If something better comes as a substitute, I will be happy as it will be good for the Hills. Elections will be held and I will contest. Whoever wins, the loser has to accept it.”

The BGPM lost all the three Hill seats – Kurseong, Darjeeling, and Kalimpong – to the BJP candidates who were backed by the GJM and GNLF.

On the other hand, Indian Gorkha Janshakti Front (IGJF) president Ajoy Edwards issued a press statement requesting the police not to give permission to the political outfits to hold their programs on May 14 as it could lead to a clash.

“People are calling me up maintaining that there could be disturbance in the hills like the past. People are fed up with all that as it was things like gheraos which started an agitation before,” said Edwards maintaining that if they were protesting against corruption then to do it legally as the IGJF has been doing.

He requested both the GJM and the BGPM leader not to hold such programs which could instigate violence.

“I request the Darjeeling SP not to give permission to hold such programs and will also write to the state Chief Secretary regarding this matter. I also ask the Darjeeling MP Raju Bista not to support wrong elements as people have voted for the BJP for things like good governance and a political settlement for this area,” he said. He expressed that people should concentrate on things like that and not on issues which would lead a fight between Gorkhas.