GJM spreading wrong information to gain votes - TMC

At a press conference today, hill TMC spokesperson Binny Sharma accused the GJM of spreading wrong information among the public to gain votes.

"The GJM is distributing pamphlets, the content of which is wrong and coated with malice. The misinformation about our party and president comes just before the election. Bearing this in mind, we will write to the ECI to take necessary action," he said.

"You have to patiently begin the process of identification of non-Indian Nepalis living in north Bengal according to the 1931 census. And then one by one send them back to Nepal... After that the movement for Gorkhaland will die a natural death" - Quotes  from GJM Pamphlet

Hill TMC spokesman Binni Sharma (R) 

The pamphlets being distributed by the GJM has borrowed some content from an article in a popular national-level magazine that states "… in a letter sent straight to his boss and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the TMC vice-president and former Kalimpong SDO, Dipak Ghosh, writes, "You have to patiently begin the process of identification of non-Indian Nepalis living in north Bengal according to the 1931 census. Then you have to strike their names off from all voter lists in Siliguri (including Dooars and Terai), Kalimpong, Kurseong and finally Darjeeling. And then one by one send them back to Nepal. After that the movement for Gorkhaland will die a natural death."

Alleging propagation of wrongful information to tarnish the party’s image ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the hill unit of the Trinamool Congress today said it would write to the Election Commission of India against the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

Apparently, the hill TMC has not taken to liking the GJM distributing pamphlets allegedly containing derogatory testimonials against party president and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by former Kalimpong SDO, Dipak Ghosh.

The hill TMC is adamant in its stance that the views of one person, even though he was a party member, should not be generalised as being that of the party's.

"What Ghosh wrote does not mean that the TMC or our chief nurture the same feelings or think on the same lines. Moreover, Ghosh could have been the vice-president of any Zilla and this does not count as the party's viewpoint. This is all politics of lies and will not work," maintained Sharma.

The pamphlet further states that the opening shots of a racially-biased strategy advocated by Ghosh has been adopted by Mamata in the form of a 'divide and rule' tactic by openly announcing the Lepchas, and not the Gorkhas, are the "original inhabitants" of north Bengal's hills.

Now with the bonhomie lost between the two sides and with elections just around the corner, the TMC wants to ensure the GJM is on the back-foot by exposing its shortcomings. TMC leader and NBDD minister Gautam Deb on Monday said the state government will conduct an audit of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, but refused to say if the same process would be held for the now defunct DGHC.

Sharma also claimed the GJM has asked the electricity department to send pending bills - from August 2008 to July 2011 - of commercial establishments in the hills.

"Our party chief has already said pending bills of the agitation period would be waived off. But the GJM wants the pending bills of commercial establishments. However, we will ensure power supply to commercial establishments are not disrupted and intimate this to the state government," the spokesperson said.

More than Rs90 crore is pending as electricity bill dues accrued during the four-year statehood agitation of the GJM, of which nearly Rs35 crore are due from commercial establishments.

However, the GJM has rubbished the allegation as an election stunt by the TMC to garner what little votes it can.

"Everyone is aware how the TMC chief gives assurances and the promises she keeps. She is vindictive and indulges in playing to the gallery. We have always fought for the people's cause and will continue to do so under all circumstances," said a GJM central committee leader not wishing to be named.

Meanwhile, the CPM today held a road show in Darjeeling as part of its election campaign for MP candidate Saman Pathak. Politburo member Sitaram Yechury will campaign for Pathak on April 12 in Darjeeling and Surya Kanta Mishra will do the same in Siliguri on April 8.

Source:EOI

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