Through Sikkim - Darjeeling merger we will be called Sikkimese, not Gorkhas - R Moktan

The Gorkhaland Task Force (GTF) has appealed all the political parties who are in favour of Sikkim- Darjeeling merger and Union Territory formation in the hills, to support the Gorkhaland demand instead. The GTF Coordinator, R Moktan, speaking on the same questioned that what will happen of Kalimpong and Dooars which have come from Bhutan if the Sikkim- Darjeeling merger happens. Notifying that Darjeeling, Kurseong and Siliguri used to be part of Sikkim, but Kalimpong and Dooars were a part of Bhutan before, Moktan said that through merger there are chances of Nepali Linguist state to get fragmented into 2 i.e. Sikkim and Gorkhaland. Standing his grounds on the demand of a separate state, the Coordinator highlighted that the demand for Gorkhaland is for the national recognition of the Gorkha community, its political security and communal harmony. “Through merger we will be called Sikkimese, not Gorkhas. These should be understood by our counterparts”, he stressed.Likewise, labeling the demand for formation of UT as an ‘old song’, Moktan said that the song is being sung since the time of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC). The Congress wants UT only in Darjeeling, but under Gorkhaland along with whole of the Darjeeling hills, Siliguri and Dooars are also included. Thus, the Congress should make clear under which areas do they want UT, he added. Even after the UT, the questions regarding the national identity of the Gorkhas and their political security will remain unanswered, he said.Therefore, the GTF keeping in mind all of the afore mentioned points, has appealed all the political parties to learn from Telengana and support the GTF for the Gorkhaland cause and give the demand a national importance by pressurizing the Central government. “When every party stands united, then the Centre will definitely get pressurized”, he said and lastly, alleged that the Centre is gaining from the differences between the political parties of the hills.

By Mukesh Sharma