Gorkhaland movement becomes a wider platform issue

Darjeeling hill movement has taken a new shape today. Instead of being a call by a single party Gorkha Janamukti Morcha(GJM), now the movement becomes a wider platform issue. After an all party meeting today called by GJM, a platform of many parties has been formed to carry on the movement. 

Gorkhaland movement becomes a wider platform issue

GJM thinktank Dr. H B Chetri told ET after the meet, "We have formed a platform of many political parties, those who were present in today's meet, to carry on this movement. But the name of that platform will be decided later. Apart from parties like Communist Party Revolutionary Marxist, Gorkha Parishangh or Gorkha Task Force, representation from the hill wings of Congress and BJP were also there. We all have agreed to form the platform." Though called, CPIM, TMC or GNLF did not take part in the meeting. 

While speaking on future course of action he said, "13th 14th will be Janta Curfew days as announced earlier. Next on 15th there will be relaxation on bandh. Then the platform will seat on 16th to decided future mode of movement. But no question of withdrawal of the movement." 

"During Janta Curfew, we will not picket or force anyone to support bandh. But we know, no one will come out and every one will support the movement," said Mr. Roshan Giri, GJM General Secretary. 

Though West Bengal Government has asked GJM to immediately nominate the next candidate for GTA Chief Executive post that has become vacant following GJM president Mr. Bimal Gurung's resignation from the post, "As decided, we are not going to nominate anyone neither we are going to attend any GTA program now," said Dr. Chetri. 

On the other side, Police continued its strict action all around the hills. Including a GTA councilor Kalyan Dewan or Gorkha nari Morcha leader Geeta Chetri, at 15 persons have been arrested in last 24 hours in connection with different old as well as new cases. Including these, total number of arrests since the onset of bandh has crossed 200. 

However, participation of Gorkha League in the all party meet created major stir in the hills. In police record, many of GJM leaders are connected to the brutal killing of Gorkha League's former president Madan Tamang in 2010. Since then, despite continuing its demand for separate statehood, Gorkha League remained one of the most vocal entities against GJM. 

Participation of Congress in the meet was not endorsed by the West Bengal Pradesh Committee leaders. "We did not have any official representation in the meet. Darjeeling district congress was instructed not to take part in it," said senior Congress leader Mr. Pradeep Bhattacharya. 

But BJP accepted its participation. "We had our men there on the greater interest of restoration of peace and normalcy. But we are not going to be in any aggressive movement," said BJP West Bengal state General Secretary Mr. Biswapriya Roy Choudhury. 

"Clear enough, interest of these smaller hill parties as well as Congress and BJP of hills to maintain own existence only prompted them to attend the meeting. By this, they all wanted to show their solidarity to Gorkhaland demand, sentiment of the majority of hill dwellers," said political observers. 

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