GRC holds public meet, demands Sikkim-Darj merger

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SNS, Kurseong 29 January 2017: After a gap of several years, the Gorkha Rashtriya Congress (GRC) today organised a public meeting at Kurseong Motor Stand in Kurseong for further strengthening and pressing their 'Sikkim-Darjeeling merger' demand.

Meanwhile, demanding the merger, party general secretary Mr Subodh Pakhrin said that Sikkim-Darjeeling merger is not simply a demand but it is their claim as once Darjeeling was an integral part of Sikkim.

He further added that their culture, tradition, language, geographical region etc are the same and therefore not only the problems of Darjeeling Hills but the various ongoing problems in Sikkim will also be solved through the merger.

He said, "Hence, both the region will be benefitted in many different aspects through unification, besides, benefitting the nation.

In his speech, senior GRC leader, Mr Amar Laksham said that that they have not been speaking about the issue of division instead they have been talking on unification of Sikkim and Darjeeling. "And accord-ingly, through this unification, the long pending bifurcation demand of Darjeeling Hills people from Bengal will also be solved," Mr Laksham said. He further claimed that central leadership and central ministers, whether from the UPA government or NDA government had supported and appreciated their merger issue. "Even, they had assured us that they would consider the demand,if we bring proper mandate and public support for it. Hence, all the people of Darjeeling Hills and Sikkim should support it," claimed, Mr Laksham.

GRC president Mr Bharat Dong said that in 1986, the West Bengal government had issued a white-paper that Darjeeling Hills was a part of Sikkim and Bhutan. he claimed.

The GRC chief repeated that the ruling Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha party in Darjeeling Hills always say that Darjeeling Hills is not a part of Bengal but these leadership never claim and voice their opinion fiercely that it is actually the lost territory of Sikkim.

In his speech, the party working president, Mr Ashok Kumar Lepcha said that Darjeeling Hills was never a part of Bengal, instead, it is a lost territory of Sikkim.

Mr. Lepcha also said that they have sufficient documents that prove that Darjeeling Hills is a part of Sikkim.