GURUNG MIND IN FINAL SHOWDOWN

Border sentinels in Gurung’s mind for final showdown
Siliguri-Dooars-Teria populace does not want a repeat of 1986

DARJEELING, August 18: Reiterating that the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) will ‘walk out’ if Gorkhaland agenda does not figure in the upcoming tripartite talks, party chief Bimal Gurung said today that “if needed be, a call will be given to the Gorkha brothers guarding the border” in the final showdown.
“We will simply walk out if there is no discussion on Gorkhaland in the tripartite talks. We will give a call to our brothers guarding the nation’s borders and those working in police forces in the final moment”, said Mr. Gurung.
The tripartite talks are scheduled possibly at the end of this month between GJM, Centre and West Bengal government. The state government has already rejected the Gorkhaland demand.
On the other hand, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has directed Union Minister Pranab Mukherjee to hold initial parleys with GJM to give a shape on the agendas to be placed before the proposed tripartite talks.
“We won’t accept anything less than Gorkhaland and we also know how to attain our rights”, said Mr. Gurung to a strong contingent of people from Dooars-Siliguri-Teria region at Darjeeling.
Around 680 people from Siliguri-Dooars-Terai region had marched on foot to Darjeeling today morning. They had began their march on August 16 demanding that Nepali dominated areas in Jalpaiguri district should be included in the proposed Gorkhaland territory.
The people from this region have not forgotten the bitter somersault of Subash Ghisingh in 1986. The Nepali dominated areas of Siliguri-Dooars-Terai have been left out of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) in the peace accord signed that year by Ghisingh despite their sacrifices in the agitation.
Fearing a repeat of 1986, the Nepali speaking people of these plain areas mobilized a strong contingent and made a strong presentation before the GJM chief.
In response, Mr. Gurung committed that the territories of Siliguri-Jalpaiguri will not be left out. He also claimed that those CPIM families who have been displaced in the 1986 by GNLF from Darjeeling hills and forced to rehabilitate in Siliguri are now leaving the party and coming in support of Gorkhaland movement.
GJM Siliguri unit general secretary Madhusudhan Thapa who had accompanied the marchers said that businessmen from Siliguri are completely supporting the Gorkhaland demand. Even the Adivasi people from the plains are with us and are demanding Gorkhaland, he said.
“We request a representative from Siliguri to attend the tripartite talks which should only discuss on Gorkhaland”, said GJM Siliguri vice president Bikram Chettri. There should be no compromise on the proposed map of Gorkhaland, he said.
42- year old Sadu Mukhia who was part of the marchers said that he had undertaken the three day march to Darjeeling for the future of the coming generation. “This new movement will be successful. We must get freedom from the Bengal exploitation”, he said.

( Source: Sikkim Express)