Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has no plans to step down from its demand for a separate State of Gorkhaland, despite recent peace overtures and dialogue with the Bengal Government.
State senior GJM leader Priyabardhan Rai on Sunday said there was no question of any compromise after the signing of the Gorkhaland Territorial Authority (GTA) pact as it was merely a step taken towards the bigger target of achieving Gorkhaland.
Rai was speaking to the media in the presence Asha, wife of GJM chief Bimal Gurung. He said, “GTA is one thing and the demand for a separate State is another. There is no conflict between the two as GTA is an interim arrangement.”
Reminding that Gurung had time and again made it clear that he was not acceding his main demand, Rai said the GTA deal was aimed at bringing peace in the Darjeeling Hills, apart from carrying out overall development activities.
Rai said, “We are watching all the activities of the Centre with keen interest. It is clear stand of the GJM leadership that if there is decision to create a new State in India, it should start from Bengal.” He added that if the Centre went ahead with Telangana, it would have to create a Gorkhaland first.
The party would stage a rally in support of the Gorkhaland at Siliguri on February 12, according to the GJM leader.
Meanwhile, rebel John Burla and Tej Kumar Toppo faction of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad on Sunday said it would create a new outfit in the Dooars that would back a joint movement with the GJM.
The two leaders were recently expelled from the party for singularly signing a deal with the GJM announcing ABAVP’s alliance with that party. The North Bengal adivasi outfit backed the inclusion of 400 moujas from the Plains in to the GTA and also announced that the GJM-ABAVP would jointly run the GTA board.
The ABAVP central leadership which is however opposed to striking a deal with the GJM rejected the deal and expelled Burla and Toppo.
source: dailypioneer
Post a Comment
We love to hear from you! What's on your mind?