Sikkim and Assam trying to ouster Darjeeling and Darjeelingeys - Alleges Bimal Gurung

Lamenting the increasing instances of labeling people from Darjeeling as "outsiders," the (GJM) Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung said, Sikkim and Assam forgot the contributions made by Darjeeling and Darjeelingey's in helping to build their state.

Sikkim and Assam trying to ouster Darjeeling and Darjeelingeys - Alleges Bimal Gurung
Bimal Gurung
Speaking at a public function in Munsong, the GJM Chief said, "we helped in building Sikkim, we helped in building Assam... the contributions made by Darjeelingey's, helped in building Bhagsu and Dehradun... from writers, poets, educationists, musicians, footballers, litterateurs... from drivers to hard working laourers... Darjeeling residents have contributed towards building Sikkim, Assam and other places... but today, the Darjeeling born are being targeted in both Assam as well as Sikkim"

Highlighting the fact that any female married to a Sikkimey, who are from Darjeeling and outside Sikkim are not given "Sikkim Subject," Mr. Gurung said, "Today Sikkim seems to have forgotten all the contributions made by us... today they are finding reasons to ouster Darjeelingey's from Sikkim."

He further stated, "Whenever the issue of Gorkhaland was raised in the Parliament, Sikkim has not extended its support... and even though they say that they will support us verbally, practically they have not done anything... and have remained quiet"

Instead, he said, "they use us whenever it is their need, and once their need is over, they tend to label us as 'outsiders,' 'WGY,' 'pari-pattiko.'"

Requesting all the qualified youth to comeback to Darjeeling and help in rebuilding our region, and assist in taking Darjeeling back to its former glory, Mr. Gurung said, "Darjeeling has today become the 'land for birth and death'... our people are born here, but they have to leave during their youth, and after spending a lifetime contributing to another place, they comeback to spend their retirement here.... all our youth, energy, vigour is spent in building other places... and once our people get old, we are told, now go back to the place you came from... Hence, I request our youth, come back while you are still young... come and help in rebuilding Darjeeling."

He added, "time has come for all of us to work together, to build our own home, to fulfill our dream and destiny... else we will end up becoming like Darjeeling Himalayan Railway... a heritage place... but at the same time an outdated relic of the distant past."

He further stated, "even though GTA is not a perfect body, it is striving to provide development and employment opportunities for our youth... let us all join hands to rebuild our hills."

It is indeed shocking to hear the anti-Darjeeling rhetoric in the political circles of Sikkim these days. Given the fact that CM Pawan Kumar Chamling's own children, half of his Cabinet Ministers and their children, and more that 50% of Sikkim's bureaucrats, teachers etc studied in the schools, colleges and University in Darjeeling, one would expect him to be more considerate towards Darjeelingey's.

We are one people, and we request the political parties in both Sikkim and Darjeeling to work towards binding the people, and not indulging in exchanging rhetoric that will divide us further.

Via: TheDC

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