Here’s someone who can give Gorkhaland, says Bimal Gurung

SNS, Darjeeling, 23 March 2014: Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) chief Bimal Gurung today said his party has brought someone to the Darjeeling Hills who can give the Gorkhas the separate state they have been striving for over a century.

"Other candidates are saying they will raise the Gorkhaland issue in the Parliament, but we have brought someone here who can give Gorkhaland," Mr Gurung said, as he held an indoor meeting of party workers at Malaydhura on the outskirts of Darjeeling town.

He was referring to the BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate for the Hills, SS Ahluwalia, who is being supported by the GJMM.

"We have fielded a BJP candidate despite the pressure mounted by the Mamata Banerjee government on us. The party's sole purpose of supporting the BJP in the election is Gorkhaland," the GJMM boss said.

According to him, the Gorkhas’ demand for Gorkhaland is 107 years old and “we failed to take the right decision earlier.”

He said the BJP has agreed to mention the formation of smaller states in its election manifesto.

Speaking on similar lines, Mr Ahluwalia said: "In our election manifesto, we have mentioned the formation of smaller states."

Mr Ahluwalia also said Mamata Banerjee government is a 'suppressive government.' "When Bimal Gurung met BJP president Rajnath Singh in Delhi and decided to support the BJP candidate the state government, in sheer vindictiveness, issued arrest warrants against some GJMM leaders. What kind of rule is this?" he said.

"In 1977, Indira Gandhi had committed a similar blunder. She had rampantly arrested leaders. As a result, her government was drubbed at the hustings," he added. Without naming anyone, Mr Ahluwalia also criticised the independent Lok Sabha candidate Mahendra P Lama. According to him, an Independent MP hardly gets time to complete his speech in the Parliament.

"The business advisory committee of the Parliament allots time for the speeches to every political party. The time will be distributed to all the 543 MPs. The party with the majority of MPs will have more time. As things stand now an Independent candidate hardly gets a minute to make a speech," Mr Ahluwalia said.

He further confirmed BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and another senior leader Sushama Swaraj will be visiting Siliguri very soon.

"Slogans of ‘har har Modi-ghar ghar Modi’ will resound across the Hills," Mr Ahluwalia said.