Radio comment on Indian Idol enrages Gorkhas in Darjeeling

Darjeeling, Sep 26 (UNI) To protest a radio remark on Indian Idol Prashant Tamang, Gorkhas in Darjeeling today took out a massive rally demanding arrest of the radio jockey after observing total bandh in this queen of hills.

Cutting across the party line, the people today sponstaneously observed bandh in Darjeeling demanding exemplary punishment to radio jockey Nitin Kumar of FM Radio-Delhi.

Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) leader Bimal Gurung alleged the radio jockey quoting him as saying " Chowkidwar se Indian Idol" in a programme braodcast yesterday referred to Prasant Tamang was derogatory and insulting to the marshal race of Gorkha.

24-year-old Prashant Tamang, an orchestra player in Kolkaka police band, was on Sunday won the Indian Idol singing contest defeating Amit Paul in the final.

All government offices, financial and educational institutions were closed to protest the reported remark and vehicles were off the roads.

Effigies of Nitin Kumar were also burned by the protesters at the Chowrasta, few hundred yards from home of Tamang.

Besides the GNLF, CPRM, Gorkha League and other students organisations also took part in a rally at the main throughfare.

They also hadned a memorandum to Darjeeling District Magistrate Rajesh Pandey demanding the Union government should take punitive action to the braodcaster.

Gorkha League leder Madan Tamang, CPRM spokesperson D S Bomjan also condemned the remark of the radio jockey.

UNI