No more bandhs for Gorkhaland: Tamang

TNN | Oct 8, 2017, Darjeeling: Rebel Binay Tamang hoisted the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha flag on the party's foundation day on Saturday on Bimal Gurung's home turf Darjeeling, signalling a bandh-free agitation course for Gorkhaland in tune with the sentiments of the Hills people.

Tamang also made amends to the GJM narrative by asserting that the Centre would deliver the goods, shifting the party's focus from the state government at a time Gurung had been harping on GJM's alliance with BJP.

In no mood to give the Centre a clean chit, Tamang said: "The Centre must start talks on Gorkhaland and place a bill in Parliament in the coming winter session for the creation of Gorkhaland as provided for in the Constitution. Darjeeling MP S S Ahluwalia should speak in favour of Gorkhaland to honour the Hills people who voted for him in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. We have prepared an eleven-point agitation programme which will be democratic. We also assure people that there won't be a bandh any more."

Tamang, confident after gaining a foothold in Darjeeling, also had a word of caution for parties from the plains. "We want to tell political leaders from the plains that they will face protests if they come to the Hills and talk against Gorkhaland," the acting GTA chairman said.

The statement, though being read as a sequel to the BJP team's visit to the Hills on October 5 when BJP state president Dilip Ghosh was pushed around and his partymen assaulted, has ramifications for other parties from the plains, including the ruling Trinamool.

Getting a whiff of the winds of change, GJM supporters in Kalimpong removed party flags carrying Gurung's photo from the GJM party office at Dumbar Chawk. The development comes after 16 of 20 councillors in Kurseong went with Tamang in a silent shift in loyalty on Friday.

With GJM president Gurung going into hiding, none of his supporters dared observe the party's foundation day separately in the Hills.

Tamang has with him former GJM youth president Alok Kantmani Thulung, an accused in AIGL leader Madan Tamang's murder. "The time has come to bring about a change in the party leadership. We will remain with the party and work for Gorkhaland," Thulung said. Gurung loyalists accused in the Tamang murder case fear that a large section among the accused has come under pressure from the state government to shift loyalties.

Sensing he was losing ground among his supporters, Gurung made a desperate bid to protect his support base. "A few traitors are creating obstacles by conspiring with the state government. People must not forgive them. Today, I am forced to hide, but I assure people that I will continue to struggle for Gorkhaland and the community. I started the GJM party on Gandhian principles and assure people that I will continue to follow democratic means to achieve our demand for a separate state," he said in an audio message.