Asok Bhattacharya

Siliguri, April 20: Bengal minister Asok Bhattacharya has accused the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha of working against the interest of its own people by shutting down government offices in the hills.

Bhattacharya said the Morcha should open a dialogue with the state government and the Centre, but did not hold out any specific invitation. “By shutting down government offices, they are working against the interest of their own people. They are also harassing people owing allegiance to other parties, like the CPM and the GNLF. All this despite the fact that they have got all that they demanded.”

The Morcha’s strike has been on since Monday. Only post offices, banks, tourist facilities and offices of the Food Corporation of India have been kept outside its purview. The strike was called to push for a charter of demands following police action on a rally organised by Morcha-affiliated ex-servicemen in Darjeeling More near Siliguri on April 9.

Benoy Tamang, the Morcha’s media and publicity manager, reacted to the charges by saying Bhattacharya had “no right to speak about the people in the hills”. “If he meant good for the hill people, he would not have made anti-hill statements like he has done so many times,” Tamang said. “The ball is in (the government’s) court and it is up to them to initiate a dialogue. We are not going to them.”

About the Morcha’s plan to hold a convention at Baghajatin Park in Siliguri on April 27, Bhattacharya said the police and civil administration would make a decision about granting permission. “If they think it is okay, they will give the permission,” he said.

Darjeeling district magistrate Rajesh Pandey, however, said the Morcha’s request has been forwarded to the state government. “The decision rests with the government now,” Pandey said.

Tamang said the Morcha would go ahead with the rally come what may. “The administration has asked us to furnish a no-objection certificate from the Siliguri Municipal Corporation. If the civic body gives it, it’s fine. If they don’t, it does not matter either,” he said.