The spirit of the statehood agitators is on a high after nearly a month of the renewed agitation. Parties have come together on the GJAC platform pumping new energy in the public. Amid such an environment, the leadership must take the Gorkhaland movement to the national level rather than limit it in the hills only. These views have been presented by well-known dramatist and intellectual CK Shestha, who doesn’t owe allegiance to any political setup, but is a close observer of the ongoing movement.
Shestha has expressed the view that Gorkhas across the country should be involved and a huge movement built up that would be worth presenting at the national level. He suggested the leadership has to launch programmes of greater impact as the current activities are limited to the hills. “The leadership must accept the fact that the level at which the movement is being organised is not enough. A lot more has to be done to take the demand to higher levels. It is of course essential to maintain an intense struggle out here, but nothing will be achieved if everything gets concentrated in the hills,” observed Shrestha.
He added, “Everybody’s answer to the question ‘Why Gorkhaland?’ should be the same, and the answer should have weigh enough to be worthy to be placed before Parliament.”
Further, he described the coming together of the CPRM and the GJM as “very positive” as they are the two largest parties in the hills. Shrestha noted that the energy these two sides used to waste by making comments against each other will now be channelised in the proper direction.
In the meantime, Bhataria Gorkha Parisangh president Dr. Enos Das Pradhan said he joined the GJAC with the idea of working effectively in the struggle for statehood.
“We have joined this joint front with a broad thought; to take the statehood demand and agitation to a national level.” he said.
Pradhan informed the GJAC would meet on August 30 to discuss elaborately about the future course of action.
Shestha has expressed the view that Gorkhas across the country should be involved and a huge movement built up that would be worth presenting at the national level. He suggested the leadership has to launch programmes of greater impact as the current activities are limited to the hills. “The leadership must accept the fact that the level at which the movement is being organised is not enough. A lot more has to be done to take the demand to higher levels. It is of course essential to maintain an intense struggle out here, but nothing will be achieved if everything gets concentrated in the hills,” observed Shrestha.
He added, “Everybody’s answer to the question ‘Why Gorkhaland?’ should be the same, and the answer should have weigh enough to be worthy to be placed before Parliament.”
Further, he described the coming together of the CPRM and the GJM as “very positive” as they are the two largest parties in the hills. Shrestha noted that the energy these two sides used to waste by making comments against each other will now be channelised in the proper direction.
In the meantime, Bhataria Gorkha Parisangh president Dr. Enos Das Pradhan said he joined the GJAC with the idea of working effectively in the struggle for statehood.
“We have joined this joint front with a broad thought; to take the statehood demand and agitation to a national level.” he said.
Pradhan informed the GJAC would meet on August 30 to discuss elaborately about the future course of action.
District Cong wants GJM to aim agitation at Centre
Amid the ongoing statehood agitation in the hills and the attempts by the state government to suppress the movement, the Darjeeling District Congress has appealed to Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders to focus on taking the statehood agenda directly to the centre.
District Congress secretary Dilip Pradhan, while addressing the media in Kalimpong today, said despite the constant pressure on them from the party high command, they have participated in the sessions of the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee and are working proactively in the hope of achieving separate statehood.
“Why can’t we unite and demand statehood when all parties at the centre can voice their same stereotype statement of not allowing the division of Bengal?” asked Pradhan.
He said district Congress representatives have already met party officials at the Centre and apprised them of the problems prevailing in the Darjeeling hills. He claimed Congress president Sonia Gandhi has appealed to all hill-based parties and organisations to stand united in the statehood demand.
Commenting on the departure of some parties from the newly formed GJAC, Pradhan appealed to them to learn lessons from ongoing agitations in other regions of the country. He said division among hill-based parties at a time when state-level parties are protesting together against the statehood demand is a shameful development.
Further, Pradhan said the district Congress appeals the GJAC to target the Centre in their future meetings while stressing on the necessity of a representative body at the national capital. He also appealed to all incumbent and former MPs, MLAs and intellectuals in the hills to take the agitation to the Centre.
The meeting was also addressed by GTA sabhsad CP Poudyel. He slammed the policy of the state government and its move to suppress the agitation.
“The state government is trying to suppress the agitation on the basis of allegations that have no evidence with the ulterior motive to portray it as violent,” remarked Poudyel.
The meeting was also attended by GJM leaders Ramesh Allay, Norden Lama and Bijay Sundas, CPRM leader PB Ghatani and many people from town and its surrounding areas.(EOI)
District Congress secretary Dilip Pradhan, while addressing the media in Kalimpong today, said despite the constant pressure on them from the party high command, they have participated in the sessions of the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee and are working proactively in the hope of achieving separate statehood.
“Why can’t we unite and demand statehood when all parties at the centre can voice their same stereotype statement of not allowing the division of Bengal?” asked Pradhan.
He said district Congress representatives have already met party officials at the Centre and apprised them of the problems prevailing in the Darjeeling hills. He claimed Congress president Sonia Gandhi has appealed to all hill-based parties and organisations to stand united in the statehood demand.
Commenting on the departure of some parties from the newly formed GJAC, Pradhan appealed to them to learn lessons from ongoing agitations in other regions of the country. He said division among hill-based parties at a time when state-level parties are protesting together against the statehood demand is a shameful development.
Further, Pradhan said the district Congress appeals the GJAC to target the Centre in their future meetings while stressing on the necessity of a representative body at the national capital. He also appealed to all incumbent and former MPs, MLAs and intellectuals in the hills to take the agitation to the Centre.
The meeting was also addressed by GTA sabhsad CP Poudyel. He slammed the policy of the state government and its move to suppress the agitation.
“The state government is trying to suppress the agitation on the basis of allegations that have no evidence with the ulterior motive to portray it as violent,” remarked Poudyel.
The meeting was also attended by GJM leaders Ramesh Allay, Norden Lama and Bijay Sundas, CPRM leader PB Ghatani and many people from town and its surrounding areas.(EOI)
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