Gorkha Janmukti Yuwa Morcha to renew the agitation for a separate Gorkhaland state

Darjeeling, Nov. 22: The Gorkha Janmukti Yuwa Morcha has decided to renew the agitation for a separate Gorkhaland state with a public meeting next month. The decision comes a day after chief minister Mayawati got an Assembly resolution passed to divide Uttar Pradesh into four states.

The agitation, the nature of which is not yet known, will start on December 18 with a rally in Kurseong’s Mungpoo.

The announcement is the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s way of reminding the people of the hills that the Gorkhaland demand has not been diluted, specially when efforts are on to create smaller states in other parts of the country, a leader of the outfit said.

He said having emerged as the strongest political force in the hills riding on the back of the statehood issue, the party did not want to be seen as putting the demand on the backburner.

“The Morcha is the strongest party in the hills today because of the statehood issue,” he said.

“So, we want to keep the statehood flame alive. At the same time, we will go ahead with the formation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. We don’t want to convey the impression that we have shifted from our original demand of a separate state at a time when Mayawati has initiated steps to carve four states out of UP.”

The Morcha will concern itself with the creation of the GTA (the new administrative set-up for the hills), while its frontal organisation, the Yuwa Morcha, will carry on with the agitation for the separate state, the leader said.

Keeping in line with the party policy, Yuwa Morcha general secretary Priyabardan Rai said: “The youths have decided to renew the Gorkhaland agitation and we will hold a huge public meeting on December 18 at Mungpoo where the details of the agitation will be announced.

“Mayawati has shown courage by passing the resolution and we congratulate her spirit. The Morcha has been formed to pursue a separate Gorkhaland state and the Yuwa Morcha has nothing to do with the GTA. The GTA was accepted by our party because of the compulsion of the state government.”

He, however, did not spell out what these compulsions were.

But the Yuwa Morcha made it clear that the statehood agitation would be led by party president Bimal Gurung. The youth wing has also asked all other frontal organisations of the Morcha like the Gorkha Janmukti Nari Morcha, Bhutpurba Sainik Morcha and the labour affiliates to get ready for the agitation.

“In the next couple of days, we will write to the President of India and will also fax copies to the Prime Minister, Union home minister and the chief minister, apprising them of our stand,” said Rai.

“If the Centre decides to create any new state in India, Gorkhaland must be given priority as this is a more than 100-year-old demand. The demand is from our heart and the mind,” said Rai.

The Yuwa Morcha’s announcement is also a reflection that despite the mother outfit agreeing to form the GTA, the demand for a separate state would continue to resonate in the hills.

“If the Centre fails to give us justice, the situation in the region could take a turn and the government will be responsible for that,” said Rai.