Kalimpong, June 21: The All Gorkha Students’ Union (Agsu) has alleged that leaders of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) are using the Kalimpong Education Development and Protection Unit as a frontal organisation to interfere in the affairs of the “apolitical students’ body”.

The allegation comes at a time when the unit condemned Agsu for sending a memorandum to the principal of a school, urging him to take action against a teacher who had allegedly beaten a student of Class VI which led up to his hospitalisation.

Last week, the unit had announced that no union or students’ body, like the Agsu, should interfere in school matters, as it would have a negative impact on educational institutions which are a major source of income here.

“GNLF leaders are interfering in our affairs through the unit. The incident that occurred last week concerned a school and when the family of the student requested us to look into the issue, we took the step,” said Ajay Dahal, the branch president of the Kalimpong Agsu.

Dahal also criticised the administration for not taking any action.

“It is the duty of our union to fight the injustice that the students are facing. If organisations like ours do not exist, then the schools can do whatever they want to,” said Dahal.

The Agsu leader said any kind of “dictation” by the GNLF would not be tolerated.

Referring to GNLF leaders being members of the unit, Dahal said: “The unit which was initially formed keeping in mind students’ development should try to keep away from politics. We also know that education is the only industry here and we want to safeguard it by improving the standards.”

GNLF MLA from Kalimpong Gaulan Lepcha said: “Agsu does not know for what purpose the unit was formed. It is not us, but they who are interfering in educational matters.”

Lepcha is also the president of the unit.