DARJEELING: It has been three days since any car has plied from New Jalpaiguri Railway Station to Darjeeling Hills. As a result visitors on their way to Darjeeling hills have found themselves stranded even before starting their holidays in Darjeeling. Home returning hill residents have also been forced to make alternative arrangements for travelling up to their home. The situation has grown out of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s declaration that vehicles from plains must also sport Gorkhaland vehicle registration numbers if they are to enter. The harassment and beating up of drivers from plains by alleged Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has futher led more complication. Now transport operators have started shying away from hills. However, to find a solution for the same and allow the turmoil to boil over transport operators will meet Bimal Gurung, President Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today. Speaking to the press, Raja Basu said, "We will petition Gorkha Janmukti Morcha President that during the pujas drivers and passengers be allowed to ply through the hills peacefully. There has already been a couple of incidents when vehicles filled with passengers were stopped and the driver mercilessly beaten. Even passengers were dragged out of the vehicle simply beacuse they were traveling on vehicle with WB registration plates. We request Mr. Bimal to see to it that no such things happen. Today, the Home Secretary is meeting with the officials of District Administration, we are also planning to send a delegation to them."
Speaking to Beacon Online, drivers at New Jalpaiguri said, "We are all waiting for the meeting between our representatives and the GJM. However, if nothing comes out of it and our drivers are beaten and the passengers threaten, we will think of serious ways of retaliation. We cannot accept the fact that during this festive period which is the time for us to make some earning we are threatened while drivers from the hills charging the double the rate are picking up passengers regularly from here and taking to the hills. We are not doing anything to the cars with GL numbers why are they harassing us. We can also stop the GL numbered cars from entering the plains if we are forced to do so."
Most of the drivers belong at NJP Station belong to the CITU affiliated transport Union. According to sources, however, the CITU affiliated transport Union has resumed attempts to chalk out an understanding with Gorkha Janmukti Transport Union. The source within the CITU affiliated transport Union said that the CITU affiliated Union had met up with the District Officials but so far have not received any inimation from them. It is beleived that there is great deal of concern between the Hill and the Plains Unions becasue the GL issue may lead to severe complications. Transport operators in the plains are not willing to operate in the hills due to the lack of security for their drivers and the passengers. The beating up of a driver at Dilaram on Thursday had led to the CITU affliated transport Union making a complaint to the District Administration but so far no reactions has been received from them. Sources within the District Administration suggest that there were attempts to meet the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leadership and sort out the situation but due to political issue the same had not been possible.
Drivers, Transport operators, commuters and tourists are now waiting for the outcome of today’s meeting with great interest. They hope that GJM will at least allow vehicles from the plains to enter Darjeeling hills with their WB registration plates and issue a diktat that passengers and driver not be harassed any longer.