Darjeeling DM show-causes GJM candidates, seeks reply within 24 hrs

The Darjeeling District Magistrate and District Municipality Officer, Darjeeling has issued show-cause notices to all 32 Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) candidates in Darjeeling and to GJM Assistant General Secretary Binoy Tamang for publishing election campaign posters for the forthcoming civic polls that allegedly are trying to create a divide thereby violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and are against the tenets of the Constitution of India.

They are supposed to appear before the Municipal Returning Officer or the District Municipality Officer and show cause as to why action should not be taken against them within 24 hours of the receipt of the notices.

The two posters in Nepali titled: "Gorkhaland versus Bengal" states: "Bangal ko dashwattalai jarbata machnu hamro bhabhishwa lai banawnu GJM lai vote deu" (to uproot the rule of slavery of Bengal and secure our future vote for GJM) and "Gorkhaland amalai paraiko hatma bikri hunu dekhi bachaunu gorkhaharu ko sunoulo bhabhishwa banaunu GJM lai vote deu" (To prevent Mother Gorkhaland from being sold to outsiders and for the betterment of Gorkhas vote for GJM."

The notices stated that the posters appeared to appeal to caste, language, race thereby trying to foment divisiveness which are contravening to Sections 125 of the Representation of People Act, 1951; 153 of IPC and Guidelines of MCC. A police case has also been started against Tamang at the Darjeeling Sadar police station under various sections of the IPC including 120B, 153B and 505(2).

The GJM inferred that it was the use of the word "Gorkhaland" in the posters that had met with the objection. The party further alleged that the district administration was playing a partial role by not booking the TMC leaders for similar offences with which the GJM has been charged.

"It is a politically motivated action. It seems that now we cannot use the word Gorkhaland. Gorkhaland has been approved by the West Bengal Assembly, the Union Government and President in the nomenclature Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. How can it be racist? They are forcefully giving it a communal color. Which law or rule in Bengal states that we cannot use the word

Gorkhaland? We had filed complaints against Minister Indranil Sen for making threat statements with communal overtures but no action was taken. Are there two sets of laws? We will seek a legal recourse," stated Tamang.

"It is not for the use of the word Gorkhaland but statements like freeing the Gorkha race from bondage (slavery) of Bengal. The Supreme Court's directive appeals in the name of religion, race, caste, community or language. Election Act labels this as a corrupt practice. Candidature is liable to be cancelled if the Court decides," stated Joyoshi Dasgupta, DM, Darjeeling.

Meanwhile, four persons were arrested in Kalimpong for carrying unaccounted cash of Rs 80,000 in Kalimpong. "In the morning (Wednesday), MCC team and police apprehended Kamal Agarwal, Pratik Sharma, Tapan Khawas along with driver Kurban Ali with the amount. They could not account for the cash. Based on the complaint lodged by the MCC team they have been booked," stated Ajit Singh Yadav, Superintendent, Kalimpong. Some people from the business community in Kalimpong closed their shops protesting the arrest.

In yet another case, three persons including one Dawa Tshering Sherpa were arrested from Kurseong for distributing cheques of Rs 50,000 each to 13 persons stated Amit P Javalgi, SP, Darjeeling.

"The GJM is influencing voters by distributing money. Appropriate action as prescribed by the law should be initiated against the perpetrators," stated Aroop Biswas, TMC leader and PWD minister.