Morcha wants car papers

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Darjeeling, July 2: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has asked car-owners across the hills to submit photocopies of the vehicle registration certificates and driving licenses to its affiliate transport wing by July 5.

The owners have also been asked to stop paying motor vehicle taxes from the day they sport new GL (Gorkhaland) number plates.

The party has said all vehicles should replace the WB initials on the number plates with GL from July 7. The All Gorkha Hill Transport Joint Action Committee — an umbrella body of about 148 syndicates across the hills — will implement the change. [Inset: A young boy making GL Plates. Photo Archives]

“We request all vehicle-owners to submit photocopies of their documents by July 5. We want them for the sake of record and nothing else,” said Narbu Lama, the president of the committee. He did not explain why the transport body needs to keep the records.

Morcha chief Bimal Gurung had explained earlier that the change of number plates is part of the non-cooperation movement against the Bengal government. The state government has said it would not hesitate to take action against those using illegal number plates.

It is learnt that 48 private owners and 75 taxi-owners today deposited the documents at the Morcha office in Singamari here. “Owners in Kalimpong and Kurseong can deposit the papers in the committee’s office in their respective towns,” said Lama. There are around 10,000 vehicles, including two-wheelers, in the three hill sub-divisions.

While residents are still unsure why they need to submit the documents, many of them have already changed their number plates to GL, despite being aware of the technical problems that may arise in case of accident and theft.