Siliguri, Aug. 1: The decision of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s central committee to suspend its unit head in Siliguri for six months has come as a jolt to the plains leader.

Bishal Chhetri has been accused of indulging in “anti party activities”. Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri announced the six-month suspension yesterday in Darjeeling after a central committee meeting.

“The decision has come as a shock to me and party members working in areas like Sukna, Siliguri and Bagdogra,” Bishal said today. “I have no clue why the central committee took such a decision. On my part, there was no anti-party activity as the general secretary alleged yesterday.”

Bishal said none of the central committee members had sought any clarification from him before taking the decision. “There had been no warnings for the anti-party activity that I have been accused of,” he added.

The plains leader had rung up Morcha president Bimal Gurung this morning. “He has told me to meet him in Darjeeling which I will do in a couple of days,” he said.

Morcha supporters from Sukna, Bagdogra and Siliguri had assembled at Bishal’s house today. “All of us are surprised,” said Lalit Thapa, the Sukna branch committee president of the Morcha.

Some of the plains leaders accused the central committee members of highhandedness.

“From public meetings to hunger strikes and protest marches, Siliguri had always been one of the key centres of the Morcha movement. But even then, there is nobody to represent us in the core committee,” said a leader on condition of anonymity.

Party general secretary Roshan Giri named Sujit Karkidoli to refute the charge that plains leaders are being kept out from the committee. “May be he (Karkidoli) is originally from Gayabari in the hills but he stays in Salbari,” Giri said.