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Kalimpong, Jan. 15: The widow of C.K. Pradhan, has condemned the Kalimpong branch committee of the GNLF for trying to lay claim to the murdered leader’s legacy after ignoring him for more than five years.

“All these years, they didn’t bother to remember him and now they have the audacity to claim his legacy? I never thought they could stoop so low,” said Shila Pradhan.

Dawa Pakhrin, the president of the Kalimpong branch committee of the GNLF, had said yesterday that his party would revive the Gorkhaland demand with the blessing of C.K. “In that case, why didn’t they support him when he left the GNLF over the very issue of Gorkhaland?” Shila asked.

C.K. had been a close confidant of GNLF chief Subash Ghisingh until he quit the party, only to be shot dead a few months later on October 3, 2002.

A garlanded portrait of C.K. was seen on the dais when Pakhrin spoke yesterday. Today, the widow accused local GNLF leaders of using underhand means to get hold of the framed photograph.

“A GNLF functionary named Changba (C.B. Tamang) came to my house yesterday and cajoled my son into parting with the photograph,” Shila said.

The widow condemned Pakhrin for questioning the existence of GNLF(C), the party founded by supporters of C.K. following his death. “The GNLF(C) is alive and active. It supports any party that espouses the cause of Gorkhaland,” she said.

Shila also expressed unhappiness at the tardy pace of the CBI investigation into her husband’s murder.