MillenniumPost
Bengal

Bandh should not be lifted until Gorkhaland is discussed: Gurung

Darjeeling: Despite all parties attending the Kolkata talks on the Hill impasse having declared the meeting a fruitful, GJM supremo Bimal Gurung stated that the ongoing indefinite bandh should not be lifted until Gorkhaland is discussed in government meetings.
Bimal Gurung sent media persons an audio recording from an undisclosed location on Tuesday evening in which he stated: "In the next two days we will hold an emergent
meeting of the GJM Central Committee. We will ask the GJM representatives who attended the Kolkata talks to clarify as to what happened in the meeting. The bandh should not be lifted until Gorkhaland is discussed in the government meeting. The CM stated that the state has no jurisdiction over the statehood issue. Let her give this in writing. We will approach the Centre then."
Gurung stated that the GJM delegation was sent to discuss the single-point agenda of Gorkhaland and not any other issues including compensation for the families of the people killed during the ongoing agitation.
Even the Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee (GMCC — a conglomeration of 14 pro Gorkhaland outfits) echoed Gurung's thoughts.
Kalyan Dewan, Coordinator, GMCC stated: "We are upset. The state was not ready to discuss Gorkhaland. The agitation is for Gorkhaland. How can they turn a deaf ear? We want the state to be more receptive. We want the state government to pass a Gorkhaland Bill in the Bengal Assembly."
Dewan stated that the GMCC will hold a meeting soon. "The democratic agitation for Gorkhaland will continue but we will request the GJM to look for an alternative tool to the ongoing indefinite bandh."
Fissures in the GJM have started emerging. Earlier, Gurung had made oblique remarks stating that some leaders within the party, hand-in-glove with the state government, have been conspiring to get him arrested. He had further alleged that letters are being dispatched to the state without his knowledge.
Binay Tamang, reacting to these allegations, stated that Gurung had a know-how of all matters and that whatever steps he (Tamang) has been taking is with the consent of the GJM Central Committee.
Meanwhile, just before the meeting in Kolkata had commenced, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was lobbed at the Mirik Municipality on Monday.
At around 2:10 pm, an IED was lobbed at the Mirik Municipality premises located at Krishna Nagar in Mirik.
"As soon as the IED, which landed on the premises, Security forces present there; poured water over it. The IED did not explode," stated Aswini Kumar Roy, Sub-Divisional Officer, Mirik. The police have started an investigation.

Next Story
Share it