Darjeeling, April 30, 2012

The cancellation of the inaugural function of the Little Rangit suspension bridge at Bijanbari has indirectly favored the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s (GJM) decision of boycotting the said programme. The North Bengal Development Minister, Gautam Deb was supposed to inaugurate the bridge today but due to sudden change in his plans the function had to be cancelled, informed the Bijanbari BDO Mayetri Chakraborty.

The Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists (CPRM) working President, LM Lama also contended with the cancellation said that right now the inauguration is not at all needed for the construction of the said bridge that started just a month back. “It is baseless to inaugurate something which has not yet been completed”, he added sarcastically. Even the people hardly know that a bridge is being constructed, he added.
Lastly, supporting the GJM’s decision of boycotting the programme, Lama said that the Morcha took the right step. Similarly in the future the GJM should to work without the support of the Government, concluded Lama.

The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha earlier had clearly said that they will be boycotting the inauguration function.
“The party will not take part in the programme, the MLA’s and the municipality chairman’s will be not present as it is a total governmental programme” said GJM general secretary Roshan Giri on Saturday.

The GJM for the first time on Wednesday boycotted the official programmes of the Trinamool-led government in Darjeeling hills, openly expressing its displeasure at not being permitted to hold public meetings in the Dooars.

When the reporters tried to seek response from minister Dev about Sunday’s inauguration he said “I am in a meeting” and disconnected the phone.

The Darjeeling MLA Trilok Dewan on the other hand said that he had not got invitation for the programme. When asked about the cost of the bridge which had started construction last month, Dewan said that the project is of 3 corers 5 lacs.

Bijanbari GJM party leader Kajiman Lohagan on Saturday said that they will also be boycotting the inauguration function as the Trinamool government has been biased. “We will not protest at the same time we will not attend” said Lohagan.

It may be recalled here that the Little Rangit suspension bridge, which was constructed in the British rule, took 32 lives, and injured 130 people when it collapsed during GJM programme on 22nd October 2011. (TS)

 

Comment