Poor get poorer
As always, given the inequities built into the global economic system, the poorest people in the world have been the…
STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
Kurseong, 5 February
Business persons here shuttered shops for four hours and staged a rally today to protest the notices sent by the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) to commercial institutions, asking them to pay the dues that had accumulated during the period the Hills observed the non-cooperation movement in support of Gorkhaland.
The rally went around Kurseong town under the banner of the Kurseong Byawasaik Sangathan, (KBS).
The KBS also served a deputation to the WBSEDCL officials, including the Divisional Manager and the Assistant Engineer aside from the Kurseong SDO and the SDPO, resenting the move.
The WBSEDCL had recently served the notices, asking the institutions to clear all the dues that piled up during the time spanning from April 2008 to July 2011 the GJMM, spearheading the stir for statehood, asked the people not to pay taxes or electricity or telephone tariffs.
According to the traders, both the state government and the local leadership had, after signing the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) pact, assured them that all forms of taxes kept pending during the agitation would be waived off.
KBS secretary, Mr Rajendra Prasad Agarwal, said the authorities concerned have assured them that their grievances would be forwarded to the higher authorities for redressal.
The WBSEDCL&’s assistant engineer at the customer care service, Mr Dipen Khawas assured the traders the matter would be taken up with the department’s senior officials.
Mr Agarwal reiterated the KBS stance that they would knock the High Court doors if their problem remains unaddressed.
Though today&’s rally failed to see good participation from traders, the four-hour shutdown (10 AM to 2 PM) was almost total.
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