A month after the results of the Lok Sabha elections were announced, the
Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha today celebrated its second consecutive
Lok Sabha victory in a manner conspicuously bereft of fanfare. Around
five hundred of its hardcore supporters attended the celebration at
Chowrasta.
In his maiden appearance after his victory from Darjeeling, S S Ahluwalia, also the BJP vice president, thanked the people of the constituency and asserted that the state's ruling party had made every effort to spike the celebration of the victory. “Even though the Trinamul Congress won majority of the seats from West Bengal they did not celebrate the victory and neither did they allow others to celebrate. They are not happy with the poll result here and the landslide for the NDA across the country,” he said.
Repeating what Narendra Modi has said-calling the collective Gorkha dream as his own- the MP said he shares the same dream. " I would leave no stone unturned to fulfil every promise that we made in course of the poll campaigning," he said.
Addressing the gathering the GJMM president, Bimal Gurung said that in the next five years, the party assisted by the MP would go a long way in the direction of achieving the long-suppressed dream of the Gorkhas. "Let me thank all those who voted for our nominee as well as those who voted against him. It is time the people, irrespective of political differences, work shoulder to shoulder to achieve the goal." he said, throwing enough hints that this time they would go all out to pressure the Centre on the issue of Gorkhaland.
Critical of the state government, he said it keeps fuelling the Jamuni land controversy to harass the Hill's autonomous body.(sns)
In his maiden appearance after his victory from Darjeeling, S S Ahluwalia, also the BJP vice president, thanked the people of the constituency and asserted that the state's ruling party had made every effort to spike the celebration of the victory. “Even though the Trinamul Congress won majority of the seats from West Bengal they did not celebrate the victory and neither did they allow others to celebrate. They are not happy with the poll result here and the landslide for the NDA across the country,” he said.
Repeating what Narendra Modi has said-calling the collective Gorkha dream as his own- the MP said he shares the same dream. " I would leave no stone unturned to fulfil every promise that we made in course of the poll campaigning," he said.
Addressing the gathering the GJMM president, Bimal Gurung said that in the next five years, the party assisted by the MP would go a long way in the direction of achieving the long-suppressed dream of the Gorkhas. "Let me thank all those who voted for our nominee as well as those who voted against him. It is time the people, irrespective of political differences, work shoulder to shoulder to achieve the goal." he said, throwing enough hints that this time they would go all out to pressure the Centre on the issue of Gorkhaland.
Critical of the state government, he said it keeps fuelling the Jamuni land controversy to harass the Hill's autonomous body.(sns)
SS Ahluwalia gets hero’s welcome in Darjeeling
Flush with the victory of the BJP both
in Darjeeling and at the Centre, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal
Gurung today warned the state government against undue interference in
the functioning of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.
Addressing supporters gathered at
Chowrastha to celebrate the election win and welcome Darjeeling MP
Surendra Singh Ahluwalia, the GJM president said, “The state government
keeps interfering and this must stop immediately. There is a GTA
agreement and law in place that are above the state government and they
must be respected. Our MP is also a reputed lawyer. We will move court
if the state government does not stop creating problems.”
Gurung was responding to the hill Trinamool Congress’ allegation that the GTA was mired in nepotism.
“I cannot go down to Siliguri and
interfere in the working of the North Bengal Development Department.
Likewise, the GTA has the right of autonomy and must be consulted for
any matter pertaining to the hills,” he asserted.
Reiterating his allegations against the
state government for using official machinery to malign the GJM for its
political gains, the GJM chief said, “The district magistrate and the
superintendent of police are working on the behest of the state
government. TMC cadres in the hills are creating trouble and
intimidating people. In fact, the state government is conspiring to
implicate me in false and fabricated cases.”
Gurung also commented on the ongoing
controversy in Jamuney, where the GTA is developing a tourist hub. “The
district magistrate is politicising the issue and misguiding some
people. But I want to remind everyone that the project in Jamuney is not
my personal property. It is being developed for the people to ensure a
sustainable future for the youths of the area,” he said.
Congratulating Ahluwalia for getting a
huge mandate, the GJM president appealed to him to fulfill his promises
and ensure the hill people get justice.
“We have remained suppressed in Bengal
since decades. The state government’s attitude towards us is not
sincere. Now with Mr Ahluwalia representing us, he must work towards
providing us justice and remaining as the bridge between the state and
central governments,” said Gurung, adding he would continue to struggle
for the “ultimate” demand of the people even if that meant sacrificing
his life.
“We have done all we could here. Now,
all programmes will be focused in Delhi as that is the place where
things happen. And we have Mr Ahluwalia and the BJP to help us,” he
said, and appealed to opposition parties and associations to work
together in the next five years to develop the hills.
Ahluwalia meanwhile, who could not stop
himself from shaking a leg to the tune of the victory song, thanked the
people for making him their representative and pledged to make every
effort to fulfill his responsibilities.
“I am overwhelmed and thank everyone who
voted for me. Instead of just talking, I will try to fulfill all the
promises my party has made,” said the MP.
The BJP leader blamed the TMC-led state
government for not permitting victory celebrations. “Darjeeling was a
seat of prestige for the TMC, but the party could not wrest it. This was
the main reason why the state government barred victory celebrations
for 72 hours on May 16 after the announcement of the results. We were
not granted permission for a programme in Siliguri on June 18,” said
Ahluwalia.
The GJM has plans to hold similar victory celebrations in Mirik, Kalimpong and Kurseong later this week.(EOIC)