BJP MLA files papers as Independent in Darjeeling
BJP MLA from Matigara Naxalbari Anandamay Barman said, “There is enough time to withdraw nomination papers. Party will talk to him and then make an appropriate decision.”
Political parties in Kalimpong have reacted sharply to statements made by Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) leader Binoy Tamang against the Sikkim Democratic Front-led government in the neighbouring state. Addressing a public meeting at Sukna near Siliguri on Sunday, Mr Tamang warned Sikkim against “meddling” in Hill politics.
Talking to media persons here today, Jan Andolan Party president Dr Harka Bahadur Chettri said that Sikkim was “unnecessarily dragged” into controversy by Mr Tamang. “Sikkim is a separate state, and if the situation demands, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling is the sole person who can take our messages to the Prime Minister, while every time we clamour for Gorkhaland, Sikkim supports us,” Dr Chettri said.
He also said that it was the GJMM that had acknowledged and felicitated Mr Chamling once for having discussed Gorkhaland in Sikkim’s Assembly. “We have not seen Sikkim interfering in Darjeeling’s politics. The people presently running the GTA are also not to be blamed, as they are just ‘his master’s voice;’ it is the state government’s idea,” he claimed. Meanwhile, Reseeka Chettri, the organizing secretary of the newly-formed party, Gorkha United Liberation Front (GULF), said they are “ashamed of leaders.”
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She, however, did not name anyone. “Pawan Kumar Chamling has been supporting us even at the ministry level, and we are thankful to him for having a word with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Gorkhaland during the recent agitation,” Ms Chettri said, adding that “leaders” are now trying to ruin the very good relations Darjeeling has always shared with Sikkim.
Pratap Khati, the spokesperson of the All India Gorkha League, also said he protests Mr Tamang’s statements against Sikkim. “Ever since (former Sikkim CM) Nar Bahadur Bhandari, Sikkim has been there in our fight. The statement that Binay Tamang made was totally uncalled for. It was unwanted. Pawan Chamling is serving Sikkim for 25 years now. Such statements will only ruin the relations we share with Sikkim,” he said.
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