GJM leadership non-committal on demand for Gorkhaland

Tilak Jha
In what would be termed a shrewd political opportunism, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leadership is no more willing to talk Gorkhaland, an issue which it has always claimed to be its first priority.
(In Hurry?
GJM Supremo looks into his wrist watch during the Thursday’s meeting with GJM Delhi members)
On Thursday, a seven member Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) delegation led by its President Bimal Gurung along with General Secretary Roshan Giri, senior leader Dr. P. Arjun and the three newly elected MLAs came to New Delhi for two rounds of meeting; one with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and another with Home Minister P. Chidamabaram. The sudden plan to visit New Delhi happened after the meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday, May 30th. Another meeting is scheduled for June 6.
The GJM leader Dr. P. Arjun told that the visit to New Delhi was a courtesy call. It’s wonderful that the “courtesy” call was not needed until two weeks of the announcements of the West Bengal election results. The results were announced on May 13.

On being asked what was this visit about, Dr. Arjun said, “It was a courtesy call.”

What issues did you raise during the courtesy call?
Dr. Arjun: We would not like to give the details. You read the newspapers for it.
Did you raise the issue of Gorkhaland?
Dr. P. Arjun: It’s always there. Those things have been discussed. After the meeting on June 6, we will tell more.
What happened of your demand of CBI inquiry into the Sibchu killings?
Dr. P. Arjun: She has agreed for an inquiry.
What she has agreed for?
Ms. Banerjee will be ordering a CID inquiry.
GJM always demanded CBI inquiry?


Dr. P. Arjun: Since the government has changed, we all can rely on the CID inquiry.
GJM has been campaigning for CBI inquiry?
Dr. P. Arjun: We have not been campaigning for that.
So you have agreed for the CID inquiry?
Dr. P. Arjun: We have given our nod. Let’s see how it proceeds.





GJM leaders in Thursday's meeting 
(From L to R: Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri, 
Dr. Ranjan Sharma, Dr. P. Arjun and Trilok Dewan)
That means you have given up the demand for the CBI inquiry?
Dr. P. Arjun: Our demand is for the CBI inquiry but they have agreed for CID inquiry.
Mamata Banerjee has always said that there won’t be any division of West Bengal?
Dr. P. Arjun: It’s her political compulsion to say that.
What about GJM?
Dr. P. Arjun: It’s our political aim.
You are supporting the West Bengal government?
Dr. P. Arjun: We are not supporting the government. We are supporting the parties which will support our demand for Gorkhaland.
But you are on the side of the West Bengal government (whose head says that she won’t ever let an independent Gorkhaland separate from West Bengal)?
Dr. P. Arjun: No, we just wanted the CPM to go out.
The demand for Gorkhaland is going to dilute, right?
Dr. P. Arjun: It’s just going to change itself according to the situation. She also has to set the house in order.
Isn’t it a compromise?
Dr. P. Arjun: No. I would disagree with the word compromise.
On Thursday evening, the GJM leadership had kept a meeting at the Gorkha Bhawan with the GJM Delhi, Haryana and Uttarakhand wings. The meeting earlier expected to be in the afternoon was later scheduled at 7 pm after a lot of confusion about the timings and whereabouts of the meeting till later afternoon. The leaders came not before 8.30 pm. Then they went for a closed door meeting lasting almost an hour.

Once the open meeting started, all that happened were formalities of garlanding. Despite the whole leadership sitting, the only person who delivered speech was Dr. P. Arjun. In his ten minutes speech, there was no mention of talks with the West Bengal government, the “courtesy” call to New Delhi, or of the next meeting on June 6. The most important part of his speech except the usual “Hami Gorkha” rhetoric was that I know it’s too late and you all need to go back home.
Meeting over, another round of garlanding and no press conference.
They didn’t even wait anymore at all, eager to rush back into their SUV before anybody else who had come all the way after covering long distances.
GJM leader Bimal Gurung completely denied answering any question.
While they were about to board their car, I asked a couple of questions to Roshan Giri, the powerful General Secretary of GJM.
In which direction the talks are going on?
Roshan Giri: It’s going in very right direction.
Mamata has never agreed for Gorkhaland?
Roshan Giri: That time will tell.
You have been talking to the government.
Roshan Giri: You see, she has just become the CM. She needs time to settle. When there is right time, we will tell.
                                                                                                                  ............Courtesy isikkim