Roy sermon to leaders

Siliguri, Aug. 2: Trinamul Congress general secretary Mukul Roy today asked his party colleagues in the hills to “politically fight back” the Gorkhaland movement revived by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha since last week.

Roy, who arrived here this morning, held a meeting with Trinamul workers and leaders and asked them to apprise people about the development process taken up by the state government since 2011.

“We have met our leaders and workers from the hills. They have been asked to politically fight back, (any anti-state agenda floated by political parties) take up a constructive role and stand in support of common residents who want peace and development,” Roy said at the Darjeeling district Trinamul office today.

“The central government has incited people in the hills for political interests. We condemn it and want to make it clear that Trinamul has always been earnest to expedite development in the hills and will continue to strive for maintenance of peace,” he added.

Sources said Trinamul has taken up a double-edged strategy of maintaining law and order by deploying additional forces and using its political base to propagate its agenda.

“We have been told in case we face any problem, threat or attack, while conducting our activities, we should contact the administration and police,” said a Trinamul source.

Earlier today, Roy had to face some irate hill Trinamul workers who alleged that the district leaders in the plains had a lackadaisical attitude.

“We are always asked to increase our support base but leaders in the plains do not back us up. They do not respond to our calls, stand by us or help to augment Trinamul activities and support base in the hills,” a hill leader told Roy.

Today, Darjeeling district administration officials said two helpline numbers, 0354-2254203 and 0354-2252829 have been installed.

“If anybody needs administrative or police intervention or help, they can call up the numbers,” district magistrate Saumitra Mohan said. “We are monitoring the situation and have passed clear instruction to all government employees that they will have to attend office from tomorrow.”

Darjeeling police chief Kunal Agarwal said: “By tonight, five companies of CRPF will reach the hills. One company would guard NH31A, two would be in Kurseong and Kalimpong subdivisions and the remaining two in Darjeeling.”