GLP volunteers start quitting GJMM, join GNL

SNS, Kurseong, 26 November 2013: In an interesting turn of events, the Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP) volunteers have started quitting GJMM and joining GNLF in Darjeeling Hills ~ an intriguing trend, confirming that politics here are in a flux with the GJMM remaining hard-pressed to remain relevant in the volatile realm of the Hill politics.

For the past few months, the trend of GJMM activists switching to other parties like TMC and GNLF has been continuing.

But now, adding a new spin to the Hill imponderables, GLP, deemed as the most important affiliate of Bimal Gurung’s party, has started drifting along the wave.

Three GLP members from Lathpunchor area in the Kurseong sub-division have joined GNLF. GNLF spokesperson from Kurseong, Mr Daya Dewan said the trio was Mr Arun Tamang, Mr Anurag Rai and Mr Binod Tamang ~ all GLP volunteers from Lathpunchor.

“They have been admitted during a meeting at Shelphu this Sunday,” he said. 

“They are a disillusioned lot. They were assured to be absorbed in police after Gorkhaland became a reality. They were instead employed as security guards. They are now for the demand for including the Hills under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution ~ a demand my party has been raising for years,” Mr Dewan added. 

The GJMM leadership, however, denied such an exodus, claiming that efforts are on to absorb them in paramilitary and police forces.