Region will go ‘green’ once again, says a healthy-looking Ghising

Gorkha National Liberation Front chief Subash Ghising today returned from Chennai after a medical checkup. He had been earlier admitted at a private nursing home in Siliguri as he was suffering from jaundice. The GNLF chief left for Chennai on October 30 for a thorough health checkup at the Apollo Hospital, especially for respiratory problems.

Hundreds of GNLF leaders and supporters from Kurseong sub-division and the plains had gathered in the afternoon at Bagdogra airport to welcome their leader and they chanted “Long live Subash Ghising” and “GNLF Zindabad”. 

Calming down the excited sea of supporters, a pleased-looking Ghising said his health has improved and he will return to Darjeeling after a week’s rest at his rented lodgings in Matigara. The GNLF chief gave clear indications of re-establishing his party in the hills while launching attacks at the GJM. Describing the GNLF as the only alternative in the hills, he asked workers present to accelerate the process of strengthening the party.

There has been a lot of talk about the GNLF chief’s impending return to the hills. Ghising himself has said on many occasions he would return to the hills at the right time. Now that he himself announced of his plans, GLNF supporters have become excited as well as impatient.

“The GJM will evaporate from the hills by December 15 and the hills and plains will once again become green as before,” claimed Ghising, hinting at plans of regaining mass support.

Kurseong sub-division GLNF convener Neema Lama said GJM chief Bimal Gurung has surrendered before the state government and has betrayed the people of Darjeeling. “All the promises he (Gurung) made were false ones. He has betrayed the hill people,” claimed Lama.

He asserted the GNLF has once again gained a significant support base in the hills and it will soon emerge as the most powerful party. Terming development issues as secondary, Lama said, “Development of Darjeeling is less important and the main issue is the settlement of the land of the Gorkhas.”

Daya Dewan, another GNLF leader from Kurseong, slammed the opposition for spreading rumours of Ghising being in coma and in critical condition in a bid to demoralise GNLF suooprters.

Mirik GNLF leader Ladup Ghising expressed happiness at Ghising’s return saying only the Sixth Schedule status can fulfill the aspirations of the hill people. He added the GNLF will work with all earnestness to ensure the Sixth Schedule Bill, which is pending in Parliament, gets passed soon.(EOIC)