GJM goes on poster cleaning crusade after polls in bid to make Hills clean again

Darjeeling: With the polls having ended, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has taken up the onus of cleaning up all campaigning material from the Hills.

"Polls are over. It's time to clean up the town. The youth organisation of the GJM will be cleaning Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik.

Our units will clean up the GTA area constituency-wise. We will remove the posters, banners and other campaign material. We also request other

political parties to do the same," stated Sanjiv Mothay, general secretary, Town Committee, Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha.

Members of the Yuva Morcha went around town on Monday, removing campaign posters, banners and flexes. The campaign was flagged off from Chowk Bazaar in Darjeeling.

Anit Thapa, general secretary, GJM (Binay faction) had made a similar appeal on Sunday. In his appeal, Thapa, who is also the present chairman, Board of Administrators, GTA, stated: "One of the main issues that we fought elections on this time is to make the Hills beautiful, along with reviving the lost glory. In order to once again make Darjeeling the Queen of the Hills, we have to bring about a change in the mindset of the residents. We have to take care of our Hills and make her beautiful.

We have to unite to make her clean and green. A step in this direction would be to remove all the campaign material as the polls are over. We appeal to other political outfits to do the same."

With tourists thronging the Hills, clean and green is what should be presented, feels the GJM.

The Opposition parties have hailed the move as well. "We welcome the move and we are also ready to pitch in," stated Ajoy Edward, member, steering committee, GNLF.