Meeting on agitation - Morcha to discuss statehood movement details

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, Oct. 19: Bimal Gurung has decided to call a meeting of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's central committee members, elected GTA Sabha members, leaders of its frontal organisations and other post-holders on Friday to discuss the details of the statehood agitation that he said would start with his resignation from the GTA.

Gurung had announced on August 18 that he would quit the GTA "in the next two to two-and-a-half months" and start an agitation for the separate state. He later asked hill schools to advance annual examination which generally start from mid-November.

Despite several important announcements by Gurung, sources in the Morcha said, the party has not yet held a threadbare discussion on the mode of agitation.

Today, Gurung said: "We will hold a central committee meeting day after tomorrow. We will discuss issues related to the statehood agitation."

Sources in the Morcha said the meeting which would be held at Malidhura in Tukvar, 7km from here, would be attended by all central committee members, elected GTA Sabha members, councillors of four hill municipalities, members of the party's four subdivisional committees and leaders of the youth and student wings.

Asked if the Morcha had drawn up a concrete plan for the agitation, a party leader said no discussion had been held so far on the matter: "Let us see how the meeting (on Friday) is conducted. I am not sure whether a detailed discussion on the agitation will take place at such a big gathering. In fact, I am not aware of the agenda of the meeting," added the leader.

Gurung, however, said today that the party would be discussing the agitation's details.

He announced the meeting on the sidelines of an event in the Morcha's head office at Patlabas here, where 38 families from Kumai and Samsing in Kalimpong subdivisions who were previously with the Jana Andolan Party and the GNLF joined Gurung's party.

Addressing the new entrants to the Morcha, Gurung said: "I appeal to all to unite for the statehood cause. Party-based politics is in its own place but as far as the community is concerned, everyone must remain united."

Gurung alleged that both the JAP and the GNLF were forgetting the community's (statehood) cause.

The Morcha president said he would leave for Delhi soon to meet Union home minister Rajnath Singh. "The dates haven't been finalised yet."

Asked about Trinamul's decision to hold marches across the hills to highlight alleged corruption in the GTA, Gurung said: "They are most welcome to organise (processions). If they come up with concrete evidence of corruption, I will definitely take strong action. However, Trinamul should also talk about Saradha and Narada scams."