BGP Sikkim observed Balidan Diwas at Singtam, adopts four resolutions -Bhutia,Lepcha, Nepali: hami Sabai Gorkhali: T Lachungpa

PR, KalimNews, Gangtok, 25 August:The Nepali-Gorkhali term >controversy has always been the crux of the problem for Gorkhas of India being tagged as Nepali or the foreigners. Expressing sorrow over Gorkhas who contributed and even died for the freedom struggle of India have been otherwise forgotten and lost into oblivion. The biased history has labelled Gorkhas as foreigners within their own country the India. T Lachungpa the chief guest, while addressing the gathering during the observation of Balidan Diwas in Singtam said so.

Lachungpa a noted social activist, stressing upon the enforcement of the term Gorkhali, said that though we in Sikkim need to be united as “Bhutia, Lepcha, Nepali hami Sabai Gorkhali” as one inclusive society in India for greater socio-political strength. 

Lachungpa also stressed upon to do away with the term Nepali-Gorkhali controversy, for it creates nothing more than a confusion among the masses. He said, that the  Major Durga Malla and Captain Ram Singh Thakuri are some of the examples who deserves to be remembered as the heroes of freedom struggle of India and let the upcoming generation  learn about them and enliven them through the ages to come. 

Lachungpa expressed 101 percent solidarity of Sikkimese people for the legitimate demand of the Gorkhaland and total support for the cause. He also stated that the situation similar to a state of emergency imposed in Darjeeling now is absolutely undemocratic and unfair on the part of the government. He urged that its high time that we should speak out loud and raise the voice against the continuous repression  to the Gorkhas.

Sikkim chapter of Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh observed Balidan Diwas at Singtam today. To observe the birth centenary of the martyr Major Durga Malla, BGP observes 25th August as Balidan Diwas nationwide in memory of Shahid Major Durga Malla and all those unknown Gorkha martyrs and freedom fighters. 

Rudra Poudyal the noted academician who presided over the function, on his address mentioned that the contribution of Gorkha during freedom struggle of India is being forgotten  and even ignored after the death of Subash Chandra Bose. He also mentioned the forgotten Gorkha fighters from Sikkim and recalled the contribution made by Helen Lepcha (Savitri Devi), Trilochan Pokhryal and Buddha Singh Bhandari.

He suggested to work out on the documentation of their contribution during freedom movement. Mr. Poudyal expressed happiness and thanked BGP for their endeavor  to install the statue of Major Durga Malla at Parliament complex in New Delhi. 

He also expressed happiness over being able to have set a place of Gorkha existence with their history in India within parliament complex and thanked BGP for their valuable achievement. 

BGP Sikkim president KN Sharma stated that the minorities in India are neglected and thus the demand for the separate state and creation of smaller states has cropped up. He also mentioned that BGP has been struggling for the national identity of Gorkhas and will go on with their quest for Gorkhaland as long as it needs to. 

As the president BGP Sikkim unit he declared to adopt four resolutions viz. the installation  of statue of freedom fighter Helen Lepcha of Sangmu village, Namchi at Central park Namchi South Sikkim, restoration of seat reservation of Nepali in state assembly, whole hearted support for Gorkhaland and documentation of Gorkha freedom fighters during freedom struggle of India. The gathering  was also addressed by the president GJVMM of Sikkim Kumar Nepal, BGP National vice-president Narayan Bhattarai, State unit working president Somnath Pandey. 

The BGP unit representatives across state, social organization and intellectuals from different quarters made  an impressive gathering to attend the function. Representatives of Solidaraty forum, Gorkha Jagran Samaj, Sikkim Suraksha Samity Namchi, Singtam Sadvhawana Samity, Manav Utthan Samity, Adarsha Gaon Kalyan Samaj, South Sikkim, Anmol Samaj Sawanay, Chalak Sangathan Singtam , Pandam and Sikkim Gorkha Prajatantrik Party were present in the programme. The programme was conducted by Prabin Khlaing, national general secretary of Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh.   

Similar programme was organised at the national level in Dehradun and other places. A seminar was also organised on the occasion in the Manekshaw conference room of Gorkhali Sudhar Sabha. Munish Tamang, Joel Rai spoke on the Gorkhaland agitation and allied matters.