HUNGER STRIKE

GCDP's hunger strike to end on Monday

 

COOCH BEHAR, June 8: The indefinite hunger strike of the Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) entered its fourth day on Sunday. The GCDP started the hunger strike at Shahid Baag in Cooch Behar from Thursday morning demanding unconditional release of the fifty-six undertrial prisoners including Mr Bangshi Badan Barman who are staying inside the Cooch Behar District Correctional Home since 2005.

 

GCDP president Mr Ashutosh Barma claimed that initially 101 supporters started fasting. Later, the number rose to 198. As health condition of 15 strikers turned worse, eight were shifted to hospital yesterday and five more were shifted today. He alleged that the police prevented new ones to join the hunger strike programme since yesterday.

 

GCDP general secretary Mr Phanindra Nath Roy made it clear that they will not lift the hunger strike till receiving of any clear assurance from the government over their demand.

 

On the otherhand, reliable sources said that the GCDP might lift their stir tomorrow considering the helplessness of the district administration to fulfil their demand of releasing 56 undertrial prisoners. Prior to that the district administration will have to admit its limitations and assure of conveying the demand to the government. Soon after a dialogue between the GCDP leadership and senior officials of the district administration the GCDP may announce the end of the hunger strike programme tomorrow. Both sides took a soft attitude to end the crisis.

 

Meanwhile, a delegation of All Assam Koch Rajbonshi Students' Union (AAKRASU) led by its advisor Mr Ranaditya Barman met the hunger strikers yesterday and expressed their solidarity with the agitators. Kamtapur Progressive Party (KPP) and CPI-ML too extended their support to the GCDP. The AAKRASU leaders declared that they would also start a similar movement in Assam if the authorities fail to meet the demand raised by the GCDP.

 

It may be recalled here that on 20 September 2005 a large number of supporters of the then united GCPA had tried to enter into Cooch Behar town violating Section 144 CrPC to sit for a fast-unto-death programme at the office premises of the district magistrate demanding formation of a separate state and recognition of their mother tongue. Following large-scale violence three policemen including an ASP and two GCPA men had to die. In connection with that incident several supporters were arrested. GCPA chief Mr Bangshi Badan Barman and a few others had surrendered to the court. Three cases were lodged against fifty-eight persons. Later, two of the undertrials died in custody. []

 

PHOTO : The GCDP supporters on their fourth day of hunger strike at Shahid Baag in Cooch Behar. – DEBASHIS BHAUMIK.

 

CPM, FB meet on Monday to revive unity

 

COOCH BEHAR, June 8: The leaders of the CPI-M and the Forward Bloc will meet on Monday to discuss formation of boards in Zilla Parishad, Panchayat Samitis and Gram Panchayats.

 

The leaders of the district units of the CPI-M and the Forward Bloc already agreed on the need to form the boards of the three-tier panchayat system jointly. They are now eager to follow the lesson they received in the recently held rural polls. They failed to retain many seats following fielding of candidates against each other and as a result the opposition parties came up by taking the advantage of the rift.

 

District CPI-M secretary Mr Chandi Pal hoped that they will be able to revive the unity of the Left Front during formation of boards of gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and Zilla Parishad. Tomorrow, they will discuss over the election of office bearers with the Forward Bloc leadership. Later, the outcome will be placed in the Left Front meeting for approval. "We will not allow the opposition parties like the BJP, the Trinamul Congress and Congress smile in this district and so we must maintain the unity of the Left Front", Mr Pal said.

 

Mr Pal, who is also the district Left Front convenor, said, the sabhadhipati and saha-sabhadhipati of the Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad will be selected according to the formula of the Left Front. The names will be finalised at the Left Front meeting.

 

On the otherhand, the secretary of district Forward Bloc Mr Udayan Guha said the bitter relation between the two parties turned worse during the panchayat elections. "On Monday we will talk to draw an end to the existing misunderstanding", he said. "The result of the rural polls taught us a lesson and we should act accordingly to save the Left Front from more damages", he said.

 

Political observers believe that it will not be easy for the FB leadership to form boards with the CPI-M. As the FB had entered into Mahajot with opposition parties against the CPI-M during the panchayat elections it will be hard for them to shun that pre-poll relation. Grass root level supporters and local leaders of the FB may revolt and it may cause a split in the party. []