Morcha supporters join hill TMC in Kalimpong,GJM holds meeting in Mirik to strengthen party

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha may have said it will continue with its agitation for statehood even as it runs the GTA, but party supporters are continuing to quit ranks in favour of the Trinamool Congress. They have said the decision of the GJM keep the GTA alive is the main reason for their leaving the party. About 40 GJM supporters from Kalimpong today joined the Hill TMC and they included Teesta unit branch secretary Hari Timsina. Hill TMC leaders Pravin Rahpal, Nanita Gautam and Chewang Bhutia were present to welcome them into the party fold.

 GJM holds meeting in Mirik to strengthen party

Worried by the rapidly increasing influence of rivals in the region, the Mirik GJM today held a meeting at the local community hall in a bid to reclaim its strength. The meeting was presided over by GJM central committee member LB Rai and GTA Sabhashad and Mirik GJM head Fubi Rai, who was the chief speaker of the day.

Fubi Rai said the GJM is committed to the issue of Gorkhaland and urged people not to get frustrated seeing the current situation. He said a separate state of Gorkhaland is what the people want and the Trinamool Congress will not speak for it. Rai criticised the TMC and said it is not in favour of solving the “most genuine” problem of the hills. He also forecast that those joining the TMC and speaking against the Morcha would turn out losers in the long run.

The meeting was also addressed by GTA Sabhashad Arun Ghising, LB Pariyar and others who asserted the GJM has to be strengthened from the smallest of its grassroots units.

In another development today, the GNLF strongly protested an incident of a party flag being allegedly vandalised in the town area. Party leaders said any party can put up flags in a democratic setup and destroying their flag would not hamper the GNLF’s growth. Flags will be re-installed at the same spot, informed the leaders.(EOIC)