Hill-Sikkim merger cry

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, Oct. 7: Bimal Gurung today said he would propose to the Centre that the Darjeeling hills be merged with Sikkim if forming the Gorkhaland state was difficult.

It is the first time that Gurung has proposed a merger.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief who said they "have to separate from Bengal", added that he would continue to fight for Gorkhaland and undertake a march to cover 9,000km starting tomorrow.

At a programme to mark the ninth foundation day of the Morcha in Motor Stand here today, Gurung said: "On October 3, I had a talk with a BJP leader and he told me that the NDA did not have a majority in Rajya Sabha now. But once they get a majority, they are thinking of settling the issues of not just this region but also three-four places like Vidarbha. I am proposing that if creating a separate state of Gorkhaland is difficult, you should merge Darjeeling with Sikkim."

He said: "Anyhow, we have to separate from Bengal. I am proposing that if separating from Bengal can be achieved by merging Darjeeling with Sikkim, the issue would have to be looked into. I will talk to the Centre. Historically, too, Darjeeling was part of Sikkim."

Darjeeling was gifted to the British by the Rajah of Sikkim after he executed the Deed of Grant on February 1, 1835.

In Darjeeling, Gorkha Rashtriya Congress and Darjeeling-Sikkim Ekikaran Manch have been advocating the merger. In Sikkim, however, most parties are opposed to the idea. On several occasions, Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling has said the people of the state are happy and content with the present contours.

Asked if he had spoken to Chamling about the issue, Gurung said: "No, I have never spoken to him. If the need arises, I will speak."

Gurung, who started a padayatra from Kalimpong on October 2, said: "I will undertake a march of 9,000km from tomorrow. I will not enter my house till I complete it. The march is for Gorkhaland and also to defeat her (Mamata) mission of dividing the hills. Each day, I plan to cover 25km and it will take nearly 400 days to complete the march." He announced a relay hunger strike in Delhi from December 7 to 19. "We will also organise a rally in Delhi on December 17, 18 and 19, which will be attended by 50,000 to 60,000 supporters."

Today, during most part of his nearly 45-minute speech, Gurung criticised Mamata Banerjee. "Mamata Banerjee always says in Darjeeling that Kanchenjungha is smiling but you never see our hearts crying. Our heart will smile only when we are separated from Bengal."