Celebrations in Hills, GJM promises growth

DARJEELING: For anyone visiting Darjeeling for the first time, it will be hard to tell that this was the very Hill station that was out of bounds because of the turmoil it experienced in the past three years. The change was evident and hard to miss on Thursday.

The theme songs for the agitators were mostly to do with the demand for a separate state. But, that did a 'poriborton' during the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) rally organized to mark the GTA signing. Supporters sang popular Nepali numbers like 'kanchi re kanchi' and 'Basanta nei basna khoja...maiti ghar' that are belted out during festivals, instead of the more thought and heart provoking 'samaya ko mang ho yo...Gorkhaland and jite ko jitaiko Morhca le harnu... jandaina' . GJM supporters sang paeans to the new state government . Instead of 'We want Gorkhaland' , they chanted long live 'Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA)'.

Supporters from Kalimpong , Kurseong and Mirik also attended the procession that started from the Railway station and reached Chowastha nearly two hours late. But, the supporters were not complaining . "It's a historic occasion . There are lots of development avenues in the GTA with huge financial package. We will have peace and development that we were deprived of so long," said a middle-aged woman fluttering the GJM flag.

School bands from Kalimpong and Darjeeling led the procession. Gurung played to the gallery dancing with wife Asha and party leaders at the 'hawa ghar' and distributed 'laddoos' . "We will prove our detractors and emerge successful in our endeavor," bellowed the GJM leader while explaining the necessity of accepting the GTA. "We request the Opposition parties not to create obstacles for two and half years and let us work. You (oppositions) must also appreciate the good work we do," said Gurung and asked them to be a part of a constructive criticism system instead of opposing for the sake of it.

A short power failure for about five minutes in the middle of his speech bared Gurung's wrath. "Maybe the electricity department is reminding me that the bills are pending. But let me tell you (electricity department) that we will only pay the bills from the date of signing the GTA agreement," he roared.

Referring to Mamata Banerjee , he added, "She is a political leader and so sometimes she has to say things because of political compulsions . But do not get her wrong." Countering the Bengal CM's assertion that Bengal will not be divided, Gurung pointed out that the word Gorkhaland in GTA was proof that the Union and state government had accepted the demand for a separate state. "We can now say that we are from Gorkhaland. The government accepting Gorkhaland in the GTA nomenclature proves that," he remarked.

Gurung, who was part of the erstwhile Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) rule, was aware of the wrongs that been done then and advised his leaders not to repeat the mistakes.
~TOI