GJM will continue with its statehood agitation - Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri

PRADIP LOHAGUN,KALIMPONG,22 Oct 2013

Even as the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is fast losing support to rivals, party spokesperson Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri has said the GJM will continue with its agitation for statehood while maintaining good relations with the state government.

Chettri, who is presently in Kolkata, had a telephonic conversation with reporters here, and his comments hinted of the GJM quietly acquiescing before the state government. “We should be ready and well prepared before the big fight. The GJM has taken the decision after considering the welfare of the people as we could not compete with the state government due to several reasons. A fight without proper instruments in hand creates problems for the common people,” said the GJM spokesperson.

According to Chettri, the people should first be self-sufficient and the agitation can be rejuvenated only then. He cited incidents when people had to struggle for rations during the 41-day bandh.

But the GJM leader refrained from commenting about his meeting with All India TMC general secretary Mukul Roy. He said he would reveal the outcome of the talks after meeting chief minister Mamata Banerjee in Darjeeling on October 25.

Chettri said, “The hill TMC claims the GJM has surrendered before the state government, but what have they done for the people here? They have instead sought the path of easy politics by falling in line with the state government. It is easy for them to blame others. Even when we agreed to sign the GTA pact, we left scope for the statehood agitation and have continuously fought for the cause.”

He added mistakes are bound to happen and the GJM may have erred, but it is rectifying itself so as not to repeat the mistakes again.