ABGL and CPRM take strong exception to GTA pact

Darjeeling, Jul 18: The Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (ABGL) and Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist (CPRM) today criticised the tripartite Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) pact, saying the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) surrendered its demand of statehood to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
ABGL general secretary Laxman Pradhan said the pact was for short time and it had lost the identity of the Gorkhas of India.  
He said the GJM after signing the pact had surrendered the statehood demand to the state government.  Mr Pradhan, also party's vice-president, said the pact was for short time because it would not satisfy the hunger of the people, who had been aspiring for statehood for long.

He predicted that Darjeeling would again erupt as the ABGL in association with likeminded people and parties would organise agitation for statehood.

He also criticised the Chief Minister for not consulting with other parties in the hills and plains before signing the pact.

CPRM leader I K Sharma also echoed the ABGL and said they (all anti-GJM parties) would regroup to mobilise support for statehood of the Gorkhas.

--UNI