GJM to abandon violence for talks: Bimal Gurung

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung today addressed party supporters at the Kurseong motor stand on the occasion of the GJM’s seventh foundation day. He announced the GJM has decided to abandon the idea of violence and pursue talks instead.

According to Gurung, the tripartite talks on October 23 will be fruitful. He said all the party affiliates have been stressing to launch an agitation in Delhi and the party would comply by leading lakhs of supporters to the national capital.

Commenting on TMC leader Gautam Deb’s assurance of making casual workers permanent, the GJM chief wondered how that would be done given the fact the workers are under the jurisdiction of the GTA. He noted, “Soon after the formation of the GJM, the interests of casual workers were given priority and we succeeded in raising their salaries by quite an extent.”

Gurung also urged government employees to stop worrying about their salaries that have been stalled following the month-long bandh. He said if the state government does not pay them, the employees would be paid from the GTA’s fund.

Further, the Morcha president accused Gautam Deb and hill TMC leaders such as Nanita Gautam and Binny Sharma of conspiring to form a committee for operating the GTA. “I resigned from the GTA but all the others are still with it. All the MLAs, GTA members and councilors still belong to us,” he asserted. Gurung also slammed former party members who have joined the TMC of being opportunistic and self-centered.

GJM sees dialogue as solution to impasse

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today observed its seventh foundation day where the leadership used the occasion to stress on the need for dialogue to bring to end the present impasse.

In a clear stand of the party softening from its earlier belligerence mood of intensifying the agitation for a separate state, GJM leaders today gave emphasis on the October 23 tripartite meeting in Delhi.

Addressing supporters at Chowrastha, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri expressed optimism of achieving a separate state on the lines of Telangana. But he also pointed out the advantages that Telangana had, which made it easier for the central government to consider its statehood.

“The Telangana area is bigger, it has a 3.50 crore population and boasts of 119 MLAs and 17 MPs. The equation is simple. The central government has kept the

2014 Lok Sabha election in mind while giving its consent to create a Telangana state,” said Giri.

However, he quickly noted a Gorkhaland state was possible with a BJP government at the Centre and its long-standing support for the creation of smaller states.

The GJM has its eye on the October 23 tripartite meeting and has said no agitation would be called prior to it, with all decisions to be taken after the outcome of the meeting.

Giri also called on the central government to consider the demography of the Darjeeling hills before taking any decision to reject the statehood demand.

“Darjeeling is the only area that shares borders with four countries. As such, the security aspect is of utmost importance. This factor cannot be ignored by the central government and must be given high priority,” said the GJM general secretary.

He also commented on the state government’s claim of the statehood demand being based on sentiments and not facts. “It was a historical blunder that Darjeeling is in Bengal. But if we look at the facts, we see the region was never a part of Bengal. We have tabled this point before the central government,” informed Giri.

Further, he dismissed the Trinamool Congress-led state government’s emphasis on the need to develop the hills. “The government should not speak only of development. The Gorkha community’s identity crisis is a bigger issue that needs to be addressed. Also, we are different from Bengal culturally, traditionally and linguistically,” pointed out Giri.

He also questioned the state government’s motive in not letting the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration function properly. “We had an agreement and mutually agreed to have the GTA as a temporary arrangement. But the state government keeps interfering in our matters. It is also violating the agreement by not withdrawing old cases against our party members,” concluded the GJM assistant secretary.(EOI)