Chamling “deeply saddened” by Ghisingh’s death

EOI, Gangtok, 30 January 2015: Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling on Friday said he is “deeply saddened” to hear the passing away of Subash Ghisingh, the founder president of the Gorkha National Liberation Front. Ghisingh breathed his last at a hospital in Delhi on Thursday afternoon. The 79-year-old once undisputed leader of the Darjeeling hills was suffering from several health complications.

Chamling said, “My prayers and condolences are with the bereaved family.  Shri Ghisingh will always be remembered for his yeoman service to the Indian Gorkhas who had been pining for identity in view of the immense contributions they have made in maintaining the sovereignty and integrity of the country by defending the motherland ever since struggle for independence. The credit for raising the Gorkhaland statehood and identity issues of the Indian Gorkhas at the national level goes entirely to Shri Ghisingh. It was his movement for separate statehood that led to the creation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council.” 

The chief minister also noted that Ghisingh was a novelist. “I have lost a good friend whom I held in high esteem,” he added. With his demise the Indian Gorkha community has lost a stalwart, visionary and senior leader.”