Bimal 'last chapter'

Rajeev Ravidas, TT, Kalimpong: Binay Tamang on Saturday made an attempt to bring Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters in Kalimpong to his side, saying "the chapter of Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri is closed".

The rebel Morcha leader also said the working committee of the party's Kalimpong unit would be formed on Sunday and appealed to all party leaders of the district to come forward and lend support to his efforts to strengthen the organisation.

Sources said Tamang, who is also the chairman of the GTA's board of administrators, had arrived in Kalimpong on a twin mission of galvanising supporters and carry forward developmental activities through the hill body.

Political observers said Tamang had been finding it difficult to wean away Morcha leaders in Kalimpong to his side. Probably conscious of the fact, he held out a veiled warning to the leaders not to sit on the fence waiting for Gurung, who has been on the run, to turn up.

"In the history of Darjeeling politics, the chapter of Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri is closed. They will not come back. It will be foolhardy to wait for him to turn up... even if he were to turn up, 99 per cent he will be in jail," he said.

Tamang appealed to the Kalimpong leadership to come forward and help strengthen the organisation.

"Tomorrow, we will form the working committee of Kalimpong district. I will appeal to the Kalimpong leadership to take a call at the earliest and join us. If you keep on waiting for him (Gurung) to show up, it will be too late. We have limited time and many challenges," he said.

This paper tried contacting Morcha leaders from the Gurung camp. But calls met with the response that they were not reachable.

(Source & Courtesy: https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/bimal-last-chapter-183573)