Kolkata, Mar 29 : Encouraged by the resolution passed in the Sikkim Assembly approving legitimacy of the demand for Gorkhaland, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) spokesperson Kishore Bhan today demanded that other states, including West Bengal, should 'follow the suit' and the Centre should take a concrete step within constitutional framework on the vexed issue.
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Talking to newspersons here, Mr Bhan said the resolution was historic and a 'big achievement' on the part of GJM's 104-year-old demand for a separate state and thanked Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling for moving it in the House.
'' The Centre as well as other states, including West Bengal, should take up the matter from a different perspective as the resolution approved constitutional validity of the demand for Gorkhaland, '' Mr Bhan observed.
He said there were instances for demands for separate states like in the case of Jharkhand and others, but the way the demand for Gorkhaland was approved in the Sikkim Assembly was 'unprecedented.' To a question on whether the development would have any impact on the coming state Assembly polls, Mr Bhan said it was a 'big achievement' on the part of GJM before the elections in which the GJM would contest four seats in Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Kalchini besides having talks on alliance with other parties in six seats.
The Sikkim Assembly passed a unanimous resolution during the day for a separate Gorkhaland comprising Terai, Dooars and three hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong in West Bengal.
Moving the resoultion Mr Chamling said the demand for a separate Gorkhaland was constitutional and hence, it should be fulfilled.
'' The state has been suffering a severe revenue loss as the National Highway 31A, considered to be the lifeline of Sikkim, is hit intermittenly in the wake of the movement organised by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in the hills, '' Mr Chamling said.
'' The Centre as well as other states, including West Bengal, should take up the matter from a different perspective as the resolution approved constitutional validity of the demand for Gorkhaland, '' Mr Bhan observed.
He said there were instances for demands for separate states like in the case of Jharkhand and others, but the way the demand for Gorkhaland was approved in the Sikkim Assembly was 'unprecedented.' To a question on whether the development would have any impact on the coming state Assembly polls, Mr Bhan said it was a 'big achievement' on the part of GJM before the elections in which the GJM would contest four seats in Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Kalchini besides having talks on alliance with other parties in six seats.
The Sikkim Assembly passed a unanimous resolution during the day for a separate Gorkhaland comprising Terai, Dooars and three hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong in West Bengal.
Moving the resoultion Mr Chamling said the demand for a separate Gorkhaland was constitutional and hence, it should be fulfilled.
'' The state has been suffering a severe revenue loss as the National Highway 31A, considered to be the lifeline of Sikkim, is hit intermittenly in the wake of the movement organised by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in the hills, '' Mr Chamling said.
--UNI
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