TMC, GNLF ridicule GJM's 'Gorkhaland versus Bengal'

Amitava Banerjee, MP, Apr 28 2017, Darjeeling: The Trinamool Congress-Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) alliance on Friday took a dig at the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's (GJM) Municipal poll campaign "Gorkhaland versus Bengal."

The Bimal Gurung-led GJM is pitching for the separate state of Gorkhaland demand in the Municipal elections in the Hills and have launched a campaign "Gorkhaland versus Bengal."

"The GJM has never missed any opportunity to encash on the Gorkhaland demand. They have turned Gorkhaland into their begging bowl.  Be it Parliamentary, Assembly, local bodies or even local body elections including college elections, they resurrect the Gorkhaland demand," stated Neeraj Zimba, Spokesperson, GNLF.

Meanwhile, Aroop Biswas, TMC Observer for the Hills, stated that TMC leaders including Firhad Hakim who is also the Municipal Affairs minister, government of West Bengal along with TMC youth leader Abhisekh Banerjee will be campaigning in the Hills from May 6. 

"I will be camping in the Hills from May 6th till the end of elections," stated Biswas.

Zimba failed to reason out the connection between Municipality and Gorkhaland. "Municipality is a civic body to look after civic amenities of the town. Municipality elections should revolve around civic amenities like drinking water, sewerage, sanitation and roads. Can Municipalities fulfill the demand of Gorkhaland?" questioned Zimba.

The GNLF spokesperson pulled up Gurung for his alleged "double standards." 

"On one hand Gurung has labeled his campaign — Gorkhaland versus Bengal — and on the on the other hand he continues to enjoy the spoils handed down by the state government including the GTA Chief's chair (GTA being an arrangement under Bengal); the red beacon and the police escort all have been handed down by the state. His party is contesting the Municipal elections, the very Municipalities that are under the West Bengal Municipal Act. Isn't this double standards? If he is against Bengal he should immediately resign from the GTA and the GJM should not take part in the Municipal elections," stated Zimba.

Echoing similar sentiments, N B Khawas, Working President, TMC (Hills) stated: "If you claim that you are serious about Gorkhaland then immediately withdraw from the Municipality elections. If they want to prove their sincerity towards Gorkhaland they should not be a part of any arrangement under West Bengal. On one hand they are claiming that they are against Bengal, again they are saying that they will upgrade the Municipality to a Corporation. For the upgradation they will have to approach the Bengal government. They are just playing a dubious role and making a fool of the simple hill folk. They have being doing this all along, encashing on the sentiments of the Hills. Whenever there is any election, they immediately resurrect the Gorkhaland demand."

Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mirik and Kalimpong Municipalities go to polls on May 14 and the counting is slated for May 17.