Today Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader Bimal Gurung alleged in the Supreme Court that the West Bengal government was trying to "effectively end" the movement for a separate Gorkhaland by implicating its members in false cases.
Gurung had earlier told the apex court that main flash- point of confrontation was that the GJM had opposed the state government's move to make Bengali language mandatory in the schools in West Bengal.
Gurung's counsel claimed before a bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan that the state was proceeding in a "biased manner" against GJM members and there was an environment of "constant fear" in Darjeeling due to this.
Senior advocate P S Patwalia, representing Gurung, sought an investigation by an independent agency in the cases lodged against the party members as also in their alleged extra- judicial killings by the police, maintaining that a fair probe was not expected from the state.
"We cannot expect a fair investigation. It is persecution. So probe by an independent agency is required," he said.
However, senior counsel A M Singhvi, appearing for West Bengal Police, said there were dangerous consequences of what the GJM leader was arguing before the apex court as there was a situation of public disorder.
During the hearing, Patwalia raised the issue of alleged violation of human rights and extra-judicial killings by the state police and referred to a number of such purported cases.
He claimed that a GJM supporter was shot dead by West Bengal Police in Sikkim and a case has been lodged against the police officials there.
It had alleged that several serious incidents had taken place under Gurung’s leadership, including the killing of a 26-year-old police official during the recent Gorkhaland agitation.
"GJM leaders are arrested in false cases," he said, adding "they are trying to effectively end the movement".
"There is an environment of constant fear in the Darjeeling region as the police is looking for GJM members. State is proceeding in a biased manner," he claimed.
Patwalia said the state cannot act like this as the movement for separate statehood was going on for long and the issue which Gurung has raised before the top court was of fair trial and fair investigation of these cases.
The GJM central committee had recently suspended Gurung for six months and appointed Binay Tamang as the party’s new president.
The arguments remained inconclusive and would continue on December 8.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)