Gangtok, Jun 11 (Agencies): Darjeeling gave a mixed political reaction on the Gorkhaland support asserted by Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling.
The Chief Minister on May 7 had reiterated the legitimacy of the separate Statehood demand. He told media in Siliguri that his government and people of Sikkim are always supportive of the Gorkhaland demand.
The Gokha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has welcomed the statements given by Chamling. But the party also criticized Sikkim’s Urban Development minister DB Thapa.
“We welcome the Sikkim Chief Minister’s support to our demand as it has also been passed in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly.
But one of his minister has shown Darjeeling hills in a negative manner which is unacceptable”, said Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri.
Giri was referring to a recent statement given by Thapa during the internal security meet at New Delhi.According to a Sikkim government release, Thapa had said formation of separate States may create unrest in adjoining region of Sikkim which will also affect the State.
All India Gorkha League (AIGL) general secretary Pratap Khati said it was difficult to ascertain the sincerity’ of the Chief Minister’s statement.
A resolution on Gorkhaland was passed in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly but there is no concrete specification on it and also there has been no campaign in Sikkim for the demand, he said.
“The Sikkim Chief Minister has more power and can influence Delhi. His position as a Chief Minister makes it convenient for him to reach out to ministers and MPs but we doubt if he was ever used his position for the Gorkhaland demand”, said Khati.
He maintained it was ‘compulsion’ of the Sikkim Chief Minister to support the demand as Sikkim gets affected during agitation in Darjeeling hills.
Thapa’s speech should be made public: Bhandari
Opposition political parties have reacted sharply over the clarifications given by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling on statements made by Urban Development minister DB Thapa during the recent internal security meet at New Delhi.
Thapa had said formation of separate States may renew unrest in Sikkim’s adjoining region of Darjeeling and could have adverse effect for the State.
Such apprehensions were mentioned in an official release issued by the Principal Resident Commissioner, Sikkim House in New Delhi.
Later the Chief Minister said the statements were distorted by a section of media to create differences between Sikkim and Darjeeling.
He asserted that Sikkim and Sikkim government is always in favour of Gorkhaland demand made by the people of Darjeeling.
However, Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP) president Nar Bahadur Bhandari on June 10 said the statements given by Thapa has antagonized the entire Nepali speaking community of India and demanded the minister’s written address should be made public by the State government.
“It is natural for the Nepali speaking community to be outraged after such statements given by the Sikkim minister.
The statements are anti-Gorkhaland and if the media reports are said to be incorrect then the State government must make public the written speech made at the in internal security meet”, said Bhandari to reporters.
Similarly, the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) held that Thapa’s statements reflect the official stand of the State government on the Gorkhaland issue.
Thapa gave a statement which was against Gorkhaland but then the Chief Minister said Sikkim govt supports Gorkhaland and we fail to understand such double policy, said SKM vice president Bhoj Raj Rai in a press statement.
Sikkim has always been a well-wisher for Gorkhaland demand but the double policy adopted by the Pawan Chamling government has tried to position the traditional friendly relationship between Sikkim and Darjeeling which we condemn, said the SKM leader.
The Chief Minister on May 7 had reiterated the legitimacy of the separate Statehood demand. He told media in Siliguri that his government and people of Sikkim are always supportive of the Gorkhaland demand.
The Gokha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has welcomed the statements given by Chamling. But the party also criticized Sikkim’s Urban Development minister DB Thapa.
“We welcome the Sikkim Chief Minister’s support to our demand as it has also been passed in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly.
But one of his minister has shown Darjeeling hills in a negative manner which is unacceptable”, said Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri.
Giri was referring to a recent statement given by Thapa during the internal security meet at New Delhi.According to a Sikkim government release, Thapa had said formation of separate States may create unrest in adjoining region of Sikkim which will also affect the State.
All India Gorkha League (AIGL) general secretary Pratap Khati said it was difficult to ascertain the sincerity’ of the Chief Minister’s statement.
A resolution on Gorkhaland was passed in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly but there is no concrete specification on it and also there has been no campaign in Sikkim for the demand, he said.
“The Sikkim Chief Minister has more power and can influence Delhi. His position as a Chief Minister makes it convenient for him to reach out to ministers and MPs but we doubt if he was ever used his position for the Gorkhaland demand”, said Khati.
He maintained it was ‘compulsion’ of the Sikkim Chief Minister to support the demand as Sikkim gets affected during agitation in Darjeeling hills.
Thapa’s speech should be made public: Bhandari
Opposition political parties have reacted sharply over the clarifications given by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling on statements made by Urban Development minister DB Thapa during the recent internal security meet at New Delhi.
Thapa had said formation of separate States may renew unrest in Sikkim’s adjoining region of Darjeeling and could have adverse effect for the State.
Such apprehensions were mentioned in an official release issued by the Principal Resident Commissioner, Sikkim House in New Delhi.
Later the Chief Minister said the statements were distorted by a section of media to create differences between Sikkim and Darjeeling.
He asserted that Sikkim and Sikkim government is always in favour of Gorkhaland demand made by the people of Darjeeling.
However, Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP) president Nar Bahadur Bhandari on June 10 said the statements given by Thapa has antagonized the entire Nepali speaking community of India and demanded the minister’s written address should be made public by the State government.
“It is natural for the Nepali speaking community to be outraged after such statements given by the Sikkim minister.
The statements are anti-Gorkhaland and if the media reports are said to be incorrect then the State government must make public the written speech made at the in internal security meet”, said Bhandari to reporters.
Similarly, the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) held that Thapa’s statements reflect the official stand of the State government on the Gorkhaland issue.
Thapa gave a statement which was against Gorkhaland but then the Chief Minister said Sikkim govt supports Gorkhaland and we fail to understand such double policy, said SKM vice president Bhoj Raj Rai in a press statement.
Sikkim has always been a well-wisher for Gorkhaland demand but the double policy adopted by the Pawan Chamling government has tried to position the traditional friendly relationship between Sikkim and Darjeeling which we condemn, said the SKM leader.
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