The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) delegation
which had been on a visit to Delhi returned Darjeeling on Thursday with a bagful of
promises. The GJM leaders made it amply clear that in future they would
like to depend rather on the Centre than on the West Bengal government
to meet the financial needs for development of the Darjeeling hills.
Speaking to the media at the Bagdogra
airport lounge, GJM assistant secretary Binay Tamang said, “We don’t
want to beg before one who already has a due of Rs 43,000 crore to pay
to the Centre,” pointing to the state government.
When asked about the state government’s
support in running the GTA, he said that was a hopeless prospect as the
state government was itself facing a heavy due worth crores of rupees.
Tamang added the GJM delegation met Union ministers Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari, Juel Oraon, Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani and several others and
placed development project reports for the benefit of the GTA and the
hill people.
Meanwhile, GJM chief Bimal Gurung handed
over the task of facing the media to GJM general secretary Roshan Giri
who claimed the meetings were positive and the Central leadership
including the ministers they met were concerned about the development of
the hills. He said the entire state of affairs in the hills was
narrated in detail and the leaders have promised to ensure the
development of the GTA.
Responding to a question as to whether
any discussions were held on the statehood issue, Giri said talks are in
progress and they cannot be divulged at the moment.(EOIC)
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