Bimal Gurung Wants Probe Against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee After Supreme Court Restrains West Bengal Govt From Arresting Him

Kolkata: Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung has sought NIA investigation on cases where he was “framed” by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. This came hours after the Supreme Court restrained the state government from arresting Gurung.

“I would like to thank the Supreme Court. I hold it in the highest esteem and reiterate my full faith in the judiciary. The GJM, under my leadership, rigorously pursued non-violent and constitutional means of raising our demand for Gorkhaland. However, numerous false cases have been slapped against me and other GJM leaders,” he said.

The leader further added that he has requested the apex court, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh to order an SC-monitored NIA investigation into all cases.

Cases against Gurung range from orchestrating bomb blasts and hauling arms in Darjeeling. “There should also be CBI investigations into the killing of 13 Gorkhaland activists by the West Bengal police and the suspicious circumstances under which Police Officer Amitabha Mullick was killed,” said the 53-year-old.

Rebel GJM leaders Binay Tamang and Anit Thapa had suspended Gurung and his wife, Asha, from the party. When asked about the move, the party founder said, “I condemn the announcement claiming the suspension of key GJM functionaries (President, General Secretary and other members) by Binay Tamang and Anit Thapa. They have already been dismissed from the party with effect from September 1, 2017. They have no authority to take such decisions. Whatever they are doing is illegal and strict legal action will be taken against them.”

The Supreme Court, on Monday, had said that ‘no coercive steps were to be taken against the petitioner (Bimal Gurung)’.

Meanwhile, CM Mamata Banerjee is set to meet representatives of all political parties from the Hills on Tuesday. The meeting is scheduled to take place at the mini-secretariat known as ‘Uttar Kanya’ in Siliguri.

The next day, Mamata will hold a meeting with administrative officials at Pintail Village, near Dagapur.

While Bimal Gurung’s GJM will not be a part of this meeting, rebel leader Binay Tamang has said that he would be in attendance “to discuss more funds for the development of Hills”.

Leaders of major political parties including Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), Jana Andolan Party (JAP) will also attend the meeting.