Siliguri, June 29: The child rights commission has served a show-cause notice on the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha for bringing out a rally with children in Darjeeling yesterday. The notice by the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights has also asked the hill party to clarify why no action was taken against the leaders who had allowed the children to participate in the rally seeking a separate Gorkhaland state. "Whereas, the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter where children in shackled conditions were exposed to violent activities, and used in a political procession by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in Darjeeling on 28.06.2017, i.e, on a working day," reads the notice. Back in 2011, Calcutta High Court had suggested that children should be kept out of political rallies. "A week's time has been given to the party chairperson to clarify why no action was taken against the leaders organising the rally and violating the rights of children," a source said.

Source: The Telegraph June 29, 2017 22:07 UTC