Tamang bats for 'intellectual' stir

SNS, 8 February 2019, KALIMPONG: While on one hand, fugitive Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha leader Bimal Gurung today sent a press statement, asking people to fulfill the dreams of martyrs," leader of another camp of the Morcha Binoy Tamang said the dreams of the martyrs will definitely be fulfilled if an agitation is led in an "intellectual manner."

Mr Tamang was here to attend a function at Mela Ground. He later spoke to the Press and said that the agitation should have strategies and be devoid of violence, "where the leaders too have to make sure that supporters are not killed."He further said that thev have taken an oath to take care of the peace and safety of the Hills.

Leaders of both the Morcha factions spoke as the Hill Terai and the Dooars marked the anniversary of the police firing that killed three Morcha supporters as they took part in an agitation in Sipchu in Jalpaiguri in 2011.

"Bimal Gurung has sent a press release on fulfilling the dreams of the martyrs. That is great. We will also work on it, but we will fulfill the dreams by fighting in a technical and intellectual way. Also, if Gurung wants to fulfill their dreams, he has to come to the field. Nothing can be achieved by hiding and calling for a directionless agitation," Mr Tamang said.

He further said that the Hill people have the habit of being driven away by emotions and not "techniques.'

"A similar thing happened at Sipchu, where the road map of the agitation was unclear. The past agitations have failed because of emotions, while time has now come to focus on the solution, which is to fight intellectually," he added.

He also iterated his party's stand that it would not support the BJP at any cost this election.

"For the MP, be it Amit Shah or Narendra Modi, we will make it a point to hand them a defeat, We will use our strategy as we know what they have done in a decade. We will not let that happen for another five years because they have done nothing," Mr Tamang said, while giving preference to a local candidate.

Also, according to Mr Tamang, if the Third Front forms a government at the Centre, pending demands of the Hills like the safety and security of the Gorkhas, DI Fund, land rights, and the tribal status will be fulfilled.

Asked about the GTA elections, Mr Tamang said that it may be held by August-September this year, "as the state plays the entire role of taking the election decisions."

He, however, talked about bifurcating Gorubathan into two in order to make 46' constituencies prior to the GTA elections. There are 45 GTA constituencies presently.