GJM Sikkim to continue press for Gorkhaland demand

Sikkim/Gangtok, Aug 9 (PTI):  Newly elected GJM Sikkim unit President Bhawani Pradhan today said the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Sikkim unit would continue to press for the statehood demand for Darjeeling Hills and the Gorkhaland Territorial Authority (GTA) was just a temporary arrangement."Now the party is taking its demand forward in a democratic way with initiatives and trying to mobilise support on Gorkhaland for which our MLAs and MP will speak in the assembly and the parliament," Pradhan said after being elected the Sikkim unit chief.He said GTA will help to build the infrastructure and human resources in the hills area and that will come in handy "when we get statehood." The new executive committee has Deependra Dewan, BB Thapa, Dawa Sherpa, Jeewan Thapa as vice-presidents, Sudip Rai as General Secretary, Bimal Pradhan, Ajay Megi, Suman Khawas, Umesh Chettri and Kumar Rai as Assistant General Secretaries, and Suraj Rai as Publicity Secretary.The committee has Kuber Chandra Dahal as the chief advisor.GJMs Assistant General Secretary Tamang said the Morcha has a clear stand of not interfering in Sikkim politics.He said creating infrastructure under GTA will also create opportunities for the people of Sikkim since it would require manpower from the state for the formation of the GTA."We are indebted for the support from Sikkim and the state government and especially the Chief Minister (Pawan Chamling) who passed a resolution for Gorkhaland in the Assembly," Tamang said.