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Bengal

Bista shown black flags on way to Singla tea estate

Darjeeling: The cavalcade of Darjeeling MP Raju Bista was stopped and black flags waved at him at Tukver on the way to Singla tea estate on the Bengal Sikkim border in Darjeeling.

A release from the office of the MP alleged that a group of 40 people in inebriated state had stopped his cavalcade at Tukvar in the presence of the police.

"While it is understood that protest against an elected official is a legitimate right of every citizen of our nation, harassment of elected MP by hired drunk anti-social elements is not. This is an example of complete breakdown of law and order in Bengal where anti social elements from ruling TMC are given shelter and protection by the administration," alleged the release.

The incident occurred at around 11 am. The cavalcade was stopped at Tukvar Checkpost around 11 km from Darjeeling. The cavalcade was allowed to pass around 3:30 pm.

"How can you detain an MP for more than 4 hours. I have been constantly keeping in touch with the SP but there has been no action. It is being done by TMC and GJM in connivance with the police. The tourists and local resident are being harassed. There has to be strict action against this," stated Bista.

The GJM (Binay faction) washed off their hands and stated that it was a protest against the Bista and the BJP. "Residents were protesting against the false commitments made by Bista and the GJM. Where is Gorkhaland? They had assured that they would create the separate state of Gorkhaland," stated Alok Kanta Mani Thulung, GJM leader.

He stated that the GJM was here to ensure that things did not go out of hand. "When we had managed to pacify the protestors to call off the protest, there were slogans from the MPs cavalcade that people of Tukvar are all cowards. This further aggravated the situation. Finally on the intervention of the administration the protest was called off," Thulung said.

He stated that such protests against the BJP will continue as the party had tricked the people of the Hills.

Interestingly, Raju Bista had been fielded by the BJP from the Darjeeling constituency and had bagged a whopping victory with a robust margin of more than 4 lakh votes. The Tukvar area on the outskirts of the Darjeeling town was formerly a stronghold of Bimal Gurung, the Gorkha leader who is on the run following an agitation in the Hills in 2017 which culminated in a 104-day long bandh. Gurung used to head the GJM and had spearheaded the agitation. He is an ally of the BJP.

Reacting to the day's incident, Binay Tamang, President, GJM stated: "The MP and the BJP should realize that the Gorkhas feel dejected and cheated on their silence on Gorkhaland. The public sentiment is being ventilated in this form on the streets in the Hills." The MP finally reached Singla Tea Estate in the evening. From Singla he went to Siliguri via Sikkim.

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