18 sept 2009

Mr Bimal Gurung told The Telegraph UK that a “Gorkhaland” state would be one of India’s richest, and he would use its wealth to build a new Darjeeling University, and establish new medical and engineering colleges.

“We have three million people and we get £6 million from the government. Sikkim has 500,000 people and they get £1 billion,” he said.

“We could collect £125 million from the hydroelectric power companies, £75 million from tea. There are huge revenues, but 70 per cent of our money is siphoned off,” he added.