Gorkha Janmukti Morcha team arrived at Mangan

Mangan, Sept. 23: A Gorkha Janmukti Morcha team, under instruction from party president Bimal Gurung, today arrived at Mangan to express solidarity with the people of Sikkim.

“We are here to express our sorrow to the Sikkimese. Our side has been also affected but the damage there is nothing compared to what Sikkim suffered. Sikkim had always been there whenever Darjeeling needed help. Our objective now is to reciprocate that gesture. For us, any damage to Sikkim, with whom we share cultural and brotherly relations, is like a tragedy in the family,” said Morcha leader Harka Bahadur Chhetri.

Chhetri, who is also the MLA from Kalimpong, said Morcha chief Gurung had directed all the three party legislators to visit Sikkim to express sorrow on behalf of the Darjeeling people and to extend any help that the Sikkim government might need.

The Darjeeling MLA could not make the trip as he was ill but the two other legislators along with three party vice-presidents, Kalyan Dewan, Pradeep Pradhan and R.B. Waiba, arrived at Mangan, the headquarters of the North district, by the Singtam-Dikchu road in the afternoon. The team also met North district collector S.K. Pradhan.

“We have also come here to offer some medicines. The amount may be little but it is more of a gesture of help and solidarity to the Sikkimese. We will take an update from the North Sikkim administration and if the authorities require our aid in any specific area, we are ready to offer it,” said Kurseong MLA Rohit Sharma.

Asked if the Morcha would be raising money in the Darjeeling hills for the Sikkim chief minister’s relief fund, Chhetri said: “There will be contributions from our side.”

Regarding the impact on tourism during the coming Puja peak season because of the quake that hit both Sikkim and Darjeeling hills, Chhetri said the Morcha has already sent across a message that tourists should extend support to the two regions by visiting them. “We have told tourists that this is the time when you should visit Darjeeling and Sikkim which are still very beautiful despite the quake related damage,” he said.

The Kurseong MLA has also handed over a list of seven persons from Kurseong missing since Sunday’s quake. “There were seven persons from Kurseong subdivision working in Mugathang near Chungthang in a hydel power project. They are missing and no phone calls have been received by their family members. I have submitted the names to the North administration,” he said.

TT