GJM’s rivals refuse to buy committee formation claim

EOI, Darjeeling, 28 Nov 2014: Criticizing its rivals in the hills, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on Friday advised them to go to Delhi to ascertain the Centre’s decision to form a committee to examine the Gorkhaland statehood demand.

After meeting Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on November 24, GJM president Bimal Gurung asserted the Centre had agreed to form a committee to look into the statehood demand. So far, a formal announcement on the matter is yet to come from Delhi.

Opposition parties in the Darjeeling hills are crying hoarse over the GJM’s claim saying it was difficult to believe. “When BJP leader Nitin Gadkari had made an announcement in support of a Vidharbha state, the news was carried out in several national newspapers and electronic media. How come there is not even a whisper from the Central government if it has been decided to form a committee to examine the Gorkhaland state demand?” wondered Communist Party Revolutionary Marxist (CPRM) spokesperson Govind Chhetri on Friday. “Until the Central government makes an official announcement or statement, it will be difficult to believe in the GJM’s claim,” h pointed out.

The hill unit of the CPM too questioned the GJM president’s claim. “To clear doubts, the Central government must come up with a statement soon. The GJM is only trying to mislead the people here for political interests,” said a party spokesperson. He also alleged it was a ploy by the BJP to curb the statehood demand. “It is true that the BJP can create a state of Gorkhaland. But it won’t because the party’s Bengal unit is against a separate state. The entire matter is to mislead people away from the statehood demand,” he added.

In response, GJM assistant secretary Binay Tamang said the opposition should meet ministers in Delhi to find out the truth. “Why don’t they go to Delhi and find out the truth? If they are sincere, they should place deputations with the Centre seeking the formation of such a committee instead of making baseless comments sitting here in the hills,” he said.

Tamang also came down upon the opposition for failing to unite on the statehood issue unlike anti-statehood protestors. “Anti-Gorkhaland forces come together to oppose our demand despite coming from different political parties. But it is sad that political parties in the hills always make misleading comments,” he said.

On the Trinamool’s assertion that West Bengal would never be divided, the GJM leader said, “Even Laloo Prasad had said a separate Jharkhand state would be formed only over his dead body. But we all know the fact. Three new states including Jharkhand were formed. Let the TMC say whatever they want, a Gorkhaland state will come into existence sooner or later.”