Gorkhaland’s attainment is a must, for the martyrs sacrificed their lives for it- Bijay Sundas

Mukesh Sharma: On the 27th day of July 1986 during the Gorkhaland agitation the Para Military forces had carried forward a demonstration during which many of them lost their lives. This day is commemorated as the Shaheed/ Martyrs day in the hills. Today the day was observed by the different political parties of the hills along with various Organizations. The office bearers of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) along with the families of the martyrs, members of various Organizations and representatives of different Schools conducted the 27th commemoration today at the Shaheed Park located at 11th Mile, Kalimpong.The GJM Central Committee member, Bijay Sundas addressing the gathering said that the attainment of Gorkhaland is a must for the martyrs have lost their lives for the same. Those martyrs never belonged to a political party, religion or caste, they belonged to Gorkhaland and they fought for it, he added. He also informed that the list of the families of the martyrs has been prepared and the Morcha Chief, Bimal Gurung has promised to provide these families with some facilities.The President of the Committee of the martyr’s families, Leo Rai in his address complained that a vehicle stand has been made by dismantling a part of the Shaheed Park and the Committee was not consulted before doing that. Even the 30 chairs which were there have been misplaced.Moti Prasad Sharma and Meena Darnal recited poems during the occasion. The members of the Gorkhaland Personal (GLP) played band music. The members of the Ex Army Morcha also gave salutation to the martyrs along with a minutes silence observation.The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) also observed the day for the 1sttime. The national working member of the BGP, Rev Dr Anos Das Pradhan said that the martyrs do not belong to any political parties, caste or creed. Gorkhaland was the dream of those martyrs, he added. The BGP, Kalimpong Branch President, Dr Saroja Rai said that it is a great act of bravery to become a martyr.Likewise, the Gorkhaland Task Force (GTF) national convener, R Moktan asserted that due to lack of continuity of the political parties, Gorkhaland is not being attained. The dreams of the martyrs will be fulfilled only after Gorkhaland is formed, he added. Further, Moktan demanded that investigation should be done who conducted the in humane shooting. He also appealed the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to talk with the West Bengal Government regarding the same.Similarly, the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist (CPRM) in observance of this particular day conducted postering at Damber Chowk. The posters demanded justice for the martyrs while some posters stated that the dream of the martyrs is Gorkhaland, and not Gorkhaland Territorial Force (GTF).