Aware that the Gorkhaland agitation had just begun to wear out on account of acute food scarcity in the wake of indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, the Mamata Government on Wednesday upped pressure on Darjeeling outfit even as it ordered pay cut for the absenting Government employees.
Darjeeling District Magistrate showing Government circular asked respective departments to prepare a list of the staff, who had not reported for work since an indefinite bandh was called by the Morcha, so that salary could be deducted accordingly.
“This step could also mean breakage in service,” a secretary-level official in Kolkata said adding the erring staff would first be asked to show cause for their absence and if their explanation is found unsatisfactory then their salaries will be deducted.”
The move came in tandem with reports that the Morcha was gradually losing steam as the demand for bringing things to normalcy on account of diminishing ration was getting louder among the populace, though they have wholeheartedly backed GJM chief Bimal Gurung’s demand for a separate Gorkhaland State.
Wednesday’s development came amid a scathing attack by the Trinamool Congress on BJP leadership for “running with the hare and hunting with the hound.”
Senior Minister Partho Chatterjee demanded action against Union Minister and Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia for his “double standards.” Chatterjee said “The BJP should take action against Ahluwalia, who speaks the language of the Morcha, when in Darjeeling and then makes a u-turn when he comes down to the plains.”
Meanwhile, even as Morcha supporters continued to take out huge rallies both in the Hills and parts of Dooars, major political parties, including the left and the Congress on Wednesday decided not to join the all-party meeting called by the State Government to solve the vexed Hill issue.
“There is no point joining the meeting as the Chief Minister who is the sole authority to take decision will be present there,” Congress’ Adhir Chowdhury said while CPI(M) leadership also decided against joining the meeting to be held in two days from now in Siliguri. The party instead asked the Government to think of a tripartite meeting involving the Centre, State and the GJM, who were the original signatories to the Gorkhaland Territorial Authority accord signed in 2011.