Kalimpong: P. Arjun, a former GJM leader and now a member of Darjeeling Dooars United Development Foundation (DDUDF) has suggested that the GJM leaders should not be puzzled from now on and start a strong move to pursue what has been agreed with BJP on statehood issue. Speaking his mind on YouTube, the former GJM leader who was then considered to be a GJM think tank said, “There must not be any excuses anymore. After the BJP acquired absolute majority in the parliament, it is expected to take a wise decision. Any excuses and delay from the central government this time would only show that the government has betrayed the Gorkhas living in India”. Arjun had supported his DDUDF mate Dr. MahendraP. Lama in the election who as an independent managed to secure only just above 55,000 votes. Arjun in his long speech on the website said it is a surprising fact that there is no Gorkha man to represent the community in the parliament and has to depend on the BJP leaders now.
“Had Lama been chosen we would have got a more solid attacking spree in the parliament as he could have
spoke on the cause fearlessly. But since the equation is now different the GJM leaders has an endless role to
play now by lobbying even the smallest NDA ally to create pressure for statehood,” he added.
He said now that there is a single majority party in the centre, creation of Gorkhaland is not impossible. “Gorkhaland is not about division of state. Darjeeling was never a part of Bengal and we are only saying that
let the land released from it and create a state can let Gorkhas give an identity in the country. For this there is
no any constitutional hurdle. In a condition where there is a single majority in the parliament, the government can create a state within just one month,” the leader has suggested.
“Had Lama been chosen we would have got a more solid attacking spree in the parliament as he could have
spoke on the cause fearlessly. But since the equation is now different the GJM leaders has an endless role to
play now by lobbying even the smallest NDA ally to create pressure for statehood,” he added.
He said now that there is a single majority party in the centre, creation of Gorkhaland is not impossible. “Gorkhaland is not about division of state. Darjeeling was never a part of Bengal and we are only saying that
let the land released from it and create a state can let Gorkhas give an identity in the country. For this there is
no any constitutional hurdle. In a condition where there is a single majority in the parliament, the government can create a state within just one month,” the leader has suggested.
Source: Himalayan Mirror