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Mob gheraoes municipal office

The Statesman
Mob gheraoes municipal office

KURSEONG, Nov. 28: Hundreds of people from the rural areas gheraoed the GJMM run Kurseong Municipality under the banner of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Joint Action Committee, demanding a halt to all development works in the municipal area. According to the agitators, the development works were diverting attention from the Gorkhaland movement.

A Gorkha Jan Mukti Joint Action Committee member Mr Pappu Thapa claimed that they were true supporters of the Gorkhaland demand and of GJMM chief Mr Bimal Gurung. “However, development works being carried out by the civic body are diverting the people’s attention from the Gorkhaland struggle. We want the Kurseong Municipality chairman to state in writing about halting all development works,” he added.
Mr Thapa also demanded a halt to the Rs 12 crore sewage project in the town and the construction of 565 houses for BPL beneficiaries.

Another GJMJAC supporter, Mr Wangden Wangdi, said that the people of the panchayat areas in the hills have sacrificed a lot including development for the cause of Gorkhaland and now the Municipal areas should do the same. “We shall not move from here unless the chairman gives in writing that all works would be stopped,” he added.

The gherao was lifted at about 12:45 p.m. after the Kurseong Municipality chairman Mr Krishna Limboo gave in writing that all development works would be stopped for the time being. Mr Limboo also wrote: “Further decision on the issue would be taken after discussing with GJMM chief Mr Bimal Gurung.”
The GJMM leadership later held a meeting in Kurseong on today’s development. “We do not know about the Gorkha Jan Mukti Joint Action Committee. However, we shall solve the issue as it is our internal matter.”

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Stall-growth march in hills

Kurseong, Nov. 28: Around 150 people owing allegiance to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today gheraoed the Kurseong municipal office, ruled by the outfit, and snatched an assurance from the chairman that all development work would be stopped for the time being.

The agitators, who came together under the banner of the Gorkha Janmukti Joint Action Committee that was formed yesterday, started marching to the office from Kurseong motor stand around 11am. The protesters shouted slogans that what they had wanted was Gorkhaland, not development.

The demonstrators, on reaching the office, demanded that two projects, which the civic body was about to implement, should be stopped immediately. One project — entailing a cost of Rs 12 crore — envisages the construction of sewerage for 20 wards. The other is for 565 BPL families which will be given houses.

“The various development works being carried out by the civic body are only diverting the people’s attention from the main cause for which the party was formed. The image of the party is also at stake. We want the civic chairman to give in writing that all projects will be stopped,” said Pappu Thapa, a member of the committee.

“The people living in panchayats have sacrificed everything for the cause of Gorkhaland and those in the municipal areas should follow suit. We will not move from here unless the chairman gives an assurance to this effect,” said Thapa.

He said the committee had not got approval from the Morcha and it had people representing panchayat areas.

The gherao finally got over around 12:45pm after the chairman, Krishna Limbu, had given in writing that all development work would be stopped for the time being. He wrote: “Further decision on the issue will be taken after holding discussion with Bimal Gurung (Morcha chief).”

Later, the chairman told reporters that the housing project was being implemented for the first time in Kurseong and if it was halted, it would be a loss for the people. “We are yet to receive funds for the sewerage project, but tenders have been issued.”

Roshan Giri, the general sectary of the Morcha, said he did not know that there was such an outfit.

© 2008 The Gorkhaland Chronicle.