Chairman of the Board of Administrators for Darjeeling and expelled Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader Binay Tamang on 6 October condemned the GJM activists for allegedly chasing West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Dilip Ghosh, adding that the BJP has hurt the sentiments of the people of Darjeeling in regard to the Gorkhaland issue.
Yesterday, Dilip Ghosh was allegedly chased and heckled by rebel GJM supporters, who gathered and raised slogans for saying 'no' to Gorkhaland.
While speaking to ANI, Tamang said, "I strongly condemn the act taken up by the GJM activists. I also request the BJP leaders not to play with the feelings of the Darjeeling people. They have been hurting the sentiments of the people because this Gorkhaland issue is prevailing since ages".
"We have helped BJP win Lok Sabha elections from Darjeeling twice in the past. We will not tolerate any attempt by them that disturb the hills. Nobody should try to disrupt normalcy in the hills," he said.
The GJM activists also disrupted the Vijaya Samellani meeting that was planned by the state BJP President.
Earlier in the week, Chairman of Board of Administrators for Darjeeling Hills (BoADH) Binay Tamang warned Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia and State BJP President Dilip Ghosh against visiting the hills without any clear stand on the demand for Gorkhaland.
The West Bengal government had earlier in the month announced formation of the Board of Administrators on September 20, replacing the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), and appointed Binay Tamang as its chairman.
The GJM had called off the indefinite strike in the hills last week after a marathon 104 days following an appeal by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
The bandh was called in support of a separate Gorkhaland state in the Darjeeling hills.
-ANI