GJAC team leaves for Delhi to deliberate on statehood issue

A six-member team of the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee today left for New Delhi to meet the prime minister, home minister, UPA chairperson and other top ministers and leaders to press for the demand of a separate state of Gorkhaland.

Speaking to reporters at Bagdogra airport before boarding the flight, Kalimpong MLA and GJM spokesperson Harkabahadur Chettri said, “If the centre believes we are citizens of this country and the Constitution guarantees our demand, it will have no reason to deny us what is rightfully ours. However, if the centre says you are not citizens of India and you cannot make such a demand, Article 3 of the Constitution should then be either amended or removed.”

Darjeeling MP Jaswant Singh and the Congress’ former MP KB Chettri are presently in Delhi seeking appointments with cabinet ministers, and the duo will lead the GJAC team.

The GJM spokesperson said the purpose of visiting Delhi is with the sole aim of pleading for Gorkhaland. He said the GTA does not serve to fulfill the identity issue of the Gorkha community living all across India and only a separate state can guarantee it.

Chettri further said, “We are not at war with the state government, we in fact want to maintain very good relations with it. As Bengal has no mandate to talk about the separate state issue, we have decided to deliberate with the centre. We are not in a hurry; we have waited for 107 years for this demand and are prepared to wait for some more time. We are very much hopeful and at the same time will not be disappointed if the result is not positive because we are confident and the people are fully behind the statehood movement. As long as the people are with us, our confidence will remain intact.”

Meanwhile, CPRM president RB Rai said, “Given the turmoil in the hills and the people filling up roads in demand of a separate state, the central government should at least listen to us; it is up to the government to decide what step it wishes to take, but it should be courteous enough to sit with us and listen to our problems.”

The GJAC team comprises Harkabahadur Chettri, GJM Darjeeling MLA Trilok Dewan, GJM Kurseong MLA Rohit Sharma, RB Rai (a former MP), former MLA DK Pradhan and CPRM spokesperson Govind Chhetri.(EOI)