Summary:
Siliguri: Effigies of BJP state president Dilip Ghosh were torched in different parts of the Darjeeling Hills on Thursday, after his statement against 'persons destroying public property' invoked widespread ire from the Hills. Ghosh had allegedly stated in an interview to a TV channel that persons who destroy public property should be "shot like dogs". The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha had asked Ghosh to withdraw his statement or face protests. On Thursday, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista stood by Ghosh and claimed that his statements were being distorted for political gain. Tamang threw a question at Ghosh and Bista, asking them to clarify whether the 'martyrs' were shot for taking part in the Gorkhaland agitation, or for destroying public property..