Surjya hails Gurung for agreeing to resume charge as GTA chief executive

SNS, SIliguri, 17 December 2013: The leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, Mr Surjya Kanta Mishra, today welcomed the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) president Mr Bimal Gurung, agreeing to resume charge of the GTA Sabha as its chief executive.

The GTA Sabha passed a resolution yesterday in Darjeeling, paving the way for his return to the GTA. Mr Gurung resigned from the post of chief executive on 30 July to resurrect the Gorkhaland movement after the UPA nodded positively to bisect Andhra Pradesh to carve out a separate Telangana.

“We welcome the move. It augers good for the Hills. The common people, who have been bearing long the brunt of disruptive politics, would feel relieved. Things in the GTA would hopefully be on the rails again,” he said.

He, however, said in the same breath that the move is beyond his comprehension. “It is a riddle as to why Mr Gurung quit and why he would return now,” he said.

Batting for an understanding between the GJMM and the state government, the senior Marxist leader said they both should work shoulder to shoulder to usher in development. “But, at the same time, right ambience should be created there to ensure that all the political parties function without any hurdle. This is what inclusive democracy warrants,” he said.

Reiterating his party’s stance for maximum autonomy for the Hills, he said this is what can solve the tangle permanently, while stressing on the indivisibility of the state.