GJMM keeps watch on AP decision to finalise stand

SNS, Darjeeling, 11 July 2013: The senior leaders of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) today made it clear that the party would plunge headlong into the movement for Gorkhaland in case the Centre takes a call on the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to carve out Telangana. 

The Centre’s decision on the long-pending sensitive matter is likely to be announced tomorrow. The party central committee met at Rangamanch Bhavan in Darjeeling today and the meeting went on for over five hours.

It is learnt from GJMM insiders, that the party chief Mr Bimal Gurung, had discussed the matter with his colleagues in the central committee before the party came out with the decision of re-launching the statehood movement with renewed vigour in case the Centre gives its positive nod to the creation of Telangana. 

The GJMM general secretary, Mr Roshan Giri, said after the meeting was over that his party would revive the statehood stir if the Centre announces creation of Telangana. 

“We think the Centre would take the final call on the matter tomorrow,” he added. Mr Giri further said that the party would fax a memorandum to the Prime Minister Mr Manmohan Singh, All India Congress Committee president Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Union home minister Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde, demanding the Centre concede Gorkhaland along with Telangana. 

The Hills were in ferment in mid-January when Mr Shinde hinted while attending an AICC conference that the Centre would announce its decision on Telangana in a month. 

The GJMM went for stir, organising rallies and public meetings in support of Gorkhaland. Mr Gurung had even threatened to step down from his post as GTA chief executive, saying that he would like to remain engaged only in the movement for Gorkhaland. 

However, things subsided after the Centre decided to go slow, apprehending large-scale unrest across the country as its possible fall-out. Asked what they would do with the GTA in case Telangana is granted and the statehood stir is revived, Mr Giri said time would decide everything. “We are waiting for what the Centre will do tomorrow,” he said.