Gurung aide quits Morcha

TT, Siliguri: Rohit Thapa, a central committee member and the organisational secretary of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Bimal Gurung faction) announced on Monday that he had severed all ties with the party.

Thapa, once considered as one of the close associates of Gurung and is known for his key role in consolidating support for the Morcha across the Dooars, has blatantly criticised Gurung and Roshan Giri for playing "survival politics" and joining hands with the GNLF, a party that was the principal political opponent of the Morcha even a year back.

Thapa, who spoke to newspersons here, said he had sent his resignation to the Morcha's general secretary, Roshan Giri, and had disasso- ciated himself from the party. "We are not even informed or consulted about the decisions made to forge ties with the GNLF and support the BJP candidate again in the Darjeeling Parliament seat. It was surprising to see that our leaders joined hands with the GNLF, a party that has always demanded Sixth Schedule status and not Gorkhaland. It is because of this difference in demand that the Morcha was formed in 2007," said Thapa.

According to him, Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri have put the agenda of the separate statehood to rest for their own interests.

"We were still working at the ground level but it was disappointing to see that they are sitting in Delhi and playing survival politics for their personal interests. There is no point in continuing with the party," he added.