`Betrayal' by BJP led to Bimal camp talks offer

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 03 Feb 2019, Darjeeling: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on Saturday hit back at Roshan Giri with wehad-told-you-so narrative and said his offer for talks with chief minister Mamata Banerjee has been prompted by the BJP's betrayal.

Giri had on Friday said he had written to the chief minister expressing "willingness to join any talks" on the identity of the Gorkhas. This was after Mamata has broached on the identity issue during her visit to Darjeeling last month.

Tshering Dahal, president of the Gorkha Janmukti Nari Morcha, said: "Roshan Giri and Bimal Gurung have now proved that the decision we took on August 2017 for the benefit of the hill people was appropriate." Morcha chief Binay Tamang and vice-president Anit Thapa had decided to engage with the state government while Giri and Gurung carried on with the 104-day complete shutdown of the hills in 2017 without any achievement. The BJP had remained a mute spectator during the entire phase.

"The main reason for wanting talks with the state government is the betrayal by BJP," said Dahal.

"Apart from Gorkhaland, the issue of granting tribal status to 11 hill communities and setting up central university, the BJP betrayed in all issues and Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri are only now realising the intent of BJP," the women leader said.