Pro-Gorkhaland body minus GJM could be in the offing... New conglomeration could be floated after October 23

THT, 20 October 2013: DARJEELING: A new pro-Gorkhaland conglomeration minus Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) could be in the offing after October 23. 

The Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee (GJAC, a conglomeration of pro-Gorkhaland outfits) has started developing cracks over the GJM’s decision to continue with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). 

“The constituents of the GJAC have been constantly stressing on the need for the scrapping of the GTA and continuing with the Gorkhaland agitation. However, GJM seems to be in favour of continuing with GTA. The election of a new GTA chief by GJM is a pointer to this,” said Enos Das Pradhan, chief adviser of GJAC. 

Discontent has been brewing among other constituents of GJAC over GJM’s attitude of taking unilateral decisions without consulting the GJAC. “We will wait till October 23 and then decide on the future course of action. On October 23 tripartite talks have been announced in Delhi. However, we are yet to get any written confirmation from the government regarding the talks. If the talks are not held and it is just eyewash, it will be easier to expose them. If the GJM talks part in in the dialogue with the government without informing GJAC, it can be safely stated that the agenda of the talks would be GTA and not the Gorkhaland demand,” said Pradhan. 

“We are committed to the Gorkhaland demand. In the near future there could be a similar formation minus GJM,” said Pradhan. 

Meanwhile, the hill unit of the Trinamool held a public meeting in Kalimpong town on Saturday. “We have launched Operation Exposure, whereby we will be exposing the GJM and how they have indulged in the politics of lies,” said Praveen Rahpal, Trinamool leader from the Hills. The Trinamool leaders requested the Hills to join the Trinamool and work for the allround development of the Hills, discarding parties that indulge in the politics of lies. 

“It is time the public realises that the brand of politics the GJM is indulging in for economical gains of a certain section of GJM leaders alone. “They are playing with the emotions of the Hills people just to fill their own pockets,” said Nanita Gautam, president, Trinamool Mahila Sangathan, Darjeeling Hills.