Opposition wants Gurung to abolish GTA

Opposition parties in the Darjeeling Hills have suggested GJM chief Bimal Gurung should abolish the GTA immediately instead of just resigning from the post of chief executive of the autonomous body.
CPRM spokesman Govind Chhetri said, “It is high time to achieve a separate state after Telengana; a one-man army policy will never fulfill the demand of Gorkhaland even in 200 years. Gurung should ask all MLAs, MP and GTA members to resign immediately.”
He claimed the three MLAs from Darjeeling who had won only because they had promised to champion the cause of Gorkhaland, are now enjoying the benefits doled out by the Mamata Banerjee government and do not want her inconvenienced at any cost.
The CPRM spokesman also slammed MP Jashwant Singh for not delivering a single word at the centre even in the wake of the renewed agitation here, urging the people to boycott such representatives.
Further, Chhetri warned Gurung against creating confusion among the people and playing with their sentiments. He advised the GJM chief to invite all political parties including intellectuals, students and senior citizens and devise ways to form a body for the Gorkhaland issue similar to the Telengana Jansampark Chetna.
Echoing the CPRM’s sentiments, Akhil Bharatya Gorkha League vice president Laxman Pradhan said, “Bimal Gurung should resign from membership of the GTA along with all the other members, three MLAs and MP Jashwant Singh to prove to the people they are really dedicated to the cause of Gorkhaland. He should submit the resignations to both the state and central governments.”
Pradhan stressed his party has always demanded Gorkhaland for the national security of the Gorkhas and not just for the development of the Hills. He also advised Bimal Gurung not to entertain those party leaders and supporters who are not loyal to the people. (EOIC)

GTF, CPRM want GTA scrapped

Gorkhaland Task Force secretary Munish Tamang today said the very existence of the GTA has barred the formation of Gorkhaland even as the Centre has approved the creation of Telengana. He said the demand for Gorkhaland along with Telengana is impractical and inappropriate.
Congratulating the Telengana leadership and people, Tamang said, “Telengana and Gorkhaland are both demands for a new state. Gorkhaland is different from Telengana and if statehood is granted it would be because of our uniqueness and not likeness with them.”
He asserted the GTA in the Darjeeling Hills has caused discussions on the statehood issue to be dropped at the centre. “The government believes our demands are fulfilled by the GTA. Unless the GTA is scrapped, the demand for Gorkhaland will be ignored,” said Tamang.
He added, “Until the GTA is abandoned, the resignation of Bimal Gurung makes no sense. With the GTA still in operation, our attempts for attaining statehood would fail.”
Meanwhile, Kalimpong CPRM unit leader Kishore Pradhan said Gorkhaland could not be formed along with Telengana due to weak and corrupt leaders here. He condemned leaders who cheat innocent people in the name of Gorkhaland.
Pradhan said the situation created by the centre’s approval for Telengana and constant pressure by the people here has compelled Gurung to resign from the post of GTA chief executive.  He said, “Who knows, with more pressure, the GTA might also be scrapped in future.” He added the CPRM hopes the GJM would soon scrap the territorial administration completely and carry on with the agitation for Gorkhaland.(EOIC)