Acting as 'bridge' for people of my constituency and Centre in Delhi: Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia
The MP today said that he was talking to Gorkha representatives every day in Delhi.
At a time when the citizens of Darjeeling have been questioning where their Member of Parliament, Union Minister SS Ahluwalia, has been in the wake of escalated tensions in the hills, the later today held a press conference in New Delhi to explain his absence.
"I'm working as a bridge here (Delhi). I talk to the Gorkha representatives. I speak to their representatives here everyday. It is my moral duty to tell the Centre the concerns of my people," he told mediapersons.
He said he was worried that when sitting in Delhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee could accuse him of stoking fires in Darjeeling, what would she say if he were to travel to the epicentre of the Gorkhaland debate.
Tensions escalated in Darjeeling recently when three civilians were killed in police firing when GJM (Gorkha Janmukti Morcha) supporters tried to march the house of party chief Bimal Gurung. Mamata Banerjee, who reluctantly sent the Centre a report on the situation, claimed only one civilian had lost his life in the clash.
She accused the GJM of harbouring anti-social elements and asked aloud where were they allegedly accumulating arms and ammunition from.
Responding to these allegations, Ahluwalia, who is allied with the GJM asked, "Unarmed people were only shouting slogans. Government had information about the march and their destination. Did they follow all provisions under 144 CrPC before firing? If they didn't, then it's unfortunate and illegal. There should be a high level probe and action should be taken against errant policemen."
Mamata Banerjee is currently in the Netherlands.