GTA Principal Secretary Saumitra Mohan prevented from entering GTA office

SAUMITRA MOHAN  FILE PHOTO

TT;; Darjeeling, Feb 7 (PTI): Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) activists on Thursday prevented Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Principal Secretary Saumitra Mohan from entering his office, heightening tensionswith the Trinamul led State Government. ”We have not allowed him entry to his Lalkuthi office since our demands for regularisation of casual workers have not been conceded to,” a GJM spokesman said. 

 However, Mohan, also the District Magistrate and the official representative to the body, had earlier been accused by GTA Chief Executive Bimal Gurung of by-passing other GTA office-bearers in taking important decisions. Mohan was not available for comments. The GJM on Wednesday called for a 12-hr Darjeeling Hills bandh on February 9, in protest against the West Bengal government's plan to carve out a Lepcha council in the hills. Earlier, Gurung said the Mamata Banerjee government was dragging its feet over transferring departments to the hill body and threatened to quit from the GTA. 

 Matters came to head when slogans for Gorkhaland were raised at a government programme of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on January 30 and the CM asserting she could act ”rough and tough” seated on the podium next to Gurung, who had reiterated the ultimate goal for Gorkhaland on earlier occasions.