International Marathoners urge Bimal Gurung to hang on

International marathon runners from Mumbai and Darjeeling have advised Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung to stick to his demand for statehood and not betray the people of the Hills.

Roshni Rai, a noted marathoner and founder of the ‘Run with Roshni’ project, and her team of 15 runners from Kalimpong, Kurseong and Darjeeling, have been participating in marathon races throughout the country just for the sake of promoting the identity of the Indian Gorkhas. “It is high time for us to put pressure on the government on the Gorkhaland issue and we have full hope on Bimal Gurung he will not betray the Hill people like politicians from Darjeeling have done in the past,” said Roshni over telephone from Mumbai.

Roshni and her friends in Mumbai have already launched a movement for Gorkhaland through social networking sites. Thousands of comments are pouring in everyday in support of the long-standing demand, she said.

The marathoner said, “The central government has done great injustice to the Gorkhas because our demand is not only for the development of our area, but is also very much connected with our national identity as the Gorkhas have sacrificed their lives since the time of Independence.”

 Imam appeals to GJM to postpone strike

Siliguri Jama Masjid imam Moulana Ahmed Raja today urged the GJM leadership to postpone its indefinite bandh amid the fasting month of Ramjan. 

Speaking at a press conference at the Siliguri Journalists’ Club, the imam said many members of the Muslim community who live in the hills are observing Roza. He said they fast the entire day and go to the market to buy food items in the evening. But due to the bandh call, they are facing immense problems in securing food items. The GJM leadership should hence postpone its bandh, added the religious leader.(EOI)