Statesman News Service
KALIMPONG, April 1. — The GNLF branch committee has taken the initiative for a fresh Kalimpong Chamber of Commerce commitee from today. This was done at the request of the business community here.
An 11 member ad-hoc working committee of the body became operational from today. The branch committee president, Mr Dawa Pakhrin, said that the body had purely been formed on the request of the business-doing section here. “This will function for the next two months after which we will hold elections,” Mr Pakhrin said.
Interestingly, annual elections to the so-called, “protector of business community” (the KCC), has not been held for the last 11 years. This move, however, has come after more than 250 signatories from the business section submitted a memo each to the local GNLF, MLA Mr Goulen Lepcha and Mr Pakhrin, demanding immediate elections.
Before the formation of this ad-hoc committee, the KCC was virtually a defunct body. Except for a few instances, major contributions by the body have not been recorded in any form. Significantly, a section of the business community drifted from the KCC, forming the Vyapar Mandal three years ago. Even the building of the chamber of commerce is under a legal hassle and has not been maintained for years. The Opposition coalition, the People’s Democratic Front and the CPI-M, have also heavily criticised the KCC.
Senior members of the PDF had also alleged that KCC members were involved in illegal activities such as gambling, smuggling, havala and trafficking. Pressing the need for holding elections, Mr Dinesh Mittal, who has now been appointed the president to the working committee said: “Besides repairing and opening of the KCC building we would all make sure of that annual elections take place.”“We have had our share of problems over the years as businessmen due to the non-functioning of the KCC. Elections should be held soon,” Mr Anil Sikhwal, also the member of the committee, said.
Incidentally, the entire business community has submitted a memo to the SDO protesting against Value Added Tax on the last day of Bengal bandh today.