Gorkha Janamukti Morcha chief Bimal
Gurung is confident the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland will
resume on a positive note once the new government at the Centre settles
and starts functioning smoothly within the next two to three months. At
the same time, he warned NBDD minister Gautam Deb against using
“rowdies” with money power to spread violence in the Darjeeling hills.
Talking to the media this afternoon at
Bagdogra airport after returning from New Delhi, Gurung said, “We had
gone to Delhi to discuss the Gorkhaland issue and we interacted with
high profile leaders of the BJP, RSS and other NDA partners. All of them
are well-versed with the demand for Gorkhaland and we reminded them of
it once again.”
The GJM chief added things are moving
ahead as envisaged and he foresees no haste as a new government has just
been formed. “We need to wait until everything gets settled and the
government starts to function smoothly. We will visit New Delhi again
and hold talks with the leaders there.”
Before heading to the capital to attend
the swearing-in ceremony of the prime minister and his cabinet, Gurung
had said he is hopeful of Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia getting a
ministerial berth.
He had said, “Ahluwalia is a senior
leader of the BJP; in fact he is the party’s vice-president, and was the
party in-charge of the northeastern states during the Lok Sabha polls. I
am confident he will get a ministerial berth.”
When reporters put up this question
before him today, Gurung replied the Union Cabinet will see an expansion
within the next three months during which Ahluwalia is sure to get a
portfolio.
Talking about the state government’s
commitment to withdraw old cases against GJM leaders and cadres and
provide further facilities to the GTA, Gurung said as the BJP is in
power now and the GJM is a constituent of the NDA government, everything
will be examined properly, and if necessary, his party will knock on
the doors of the high court and the Supreme Court to seek justice.
The GJM chief also clearly stated the
hills will not have to endure with bandhs any more and the GTA will work
to maintain peace and tranquility and engage in development works for
the welfare of the general public.
Asked to comment on whether the GJM and
the state government are in any conflict, Gurung said, “We had gone to
New Delhi on the invitation of the BJP and if the state government
reacts negatively to this, it is not our headache. The GTA will carry on
with its development works and it is the state government’s
responsibility to send the necessary funds.”
The GJM chief was accompanied by his wife Asha Gurung, general secretary Roshan Giri and other party leaders.(EOIC)