Bimal versus Binay on Assam list

Binay Tamang

Vivek Chhetri, Aug 05, 2018, Darjeeling: Bimal Gurung on Saturday alleged that the state government was "secretly" measuring land in the hills, probably to settle "illegal Bangladeshis", which was strongly rebutted by the Binay Tamang camp of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

"I have been made aware of the fact that state government is secretly measuring land in our hills. If this is being done to settle illegal Bangladeshis who have been removed from Assam, then it creates a national security threat," Gurung said in a message posted by Morcha leader Roshan Giri on social media.

The message was in reference to 40 lakh people in Assam not finding their names in the final draft of National Register of Citizens (NRC) published on July 30.

"I will not permit any political entity from the state to jeopardise our national security," Gurung further added.

 Bimal Gurung 

Within hours of this message, Anit Thapa, general secretary of the Morcha, challenged Gurung to prove his claim and accused Gurung of "emotionally blackmailing" the hill people for the past 10 years.

"A person who is not in the region for the last year, who ditched the local people and is on the run has no right to say he has information that the government is secretly measuring land to settle illegal immigrants. I will challenge the fugitive leader to show any proof relating to this," Thapa said in a written statement issued in English.

Accusing Gurung of emotional blackmail, Thapa stated that this was yet another example of Gurung's style of operation.

"In the last 10 years, Bimal Gurung has done nothing but emotionally blackmailed the people of the hills and this is another example where he is spreading rumours to divide them in the name of religion," Thapa added.

Terming Gurung's statement false propaganda, Thapa said "the people in the hills should not be swayed by a fugitive" who left his people in chaos".

Recently, Tamang said around 1 lakh Gorkhas had failed to make it to the NRC draft and had vowed to help "all genuine Indian Gorkhas" get their names listed. "Gurung's statement on NRC has been issued as he (is) under pressure for not speaking on the Assam NRC issue," said Thapa.