Gurung In The Hills Using The Apex Court Order As A Shield?

Facebook / Bimal Gurung Official

Wepen, WEPEN Desk, April 3, 2019: With the ruling of the Supreme Court directing Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri to seek legal recourse from the Calcutta High Court in the next four days and that no coercive action can be taken till then, the hills are abuzz with speculations as to whether Gurung and Giri will take the risk of making an appearance in the Hills using the Supreme Court’s ruling as a shield.

A message is being circulated in WhatsApp which requests all Gorkhaland supporters to be present at Bagdogra Airport at 11 am on April 4 to receive Gurung and Giri. The message states the name of Prakash Gurung, who is a GJM leader and is absconding.

Accompanying the message is an audio in which one Purna Singh requests all to welcome Gurung and Giri at Bagdogra. The voice labels Gurung as the Rana (King – a term popular in Nepal) of one and a half crore Gorkhas. The authenticity of the message and audio clip could not be verified. This has further added fuel to the speculations.

“They could come to the Hills in the next four days- the window allowed by the apex court to knock on the doors of the Calcutta High Court and use it for election campaign,” stated a political observer. Incidentally since the agitation in 2017 culminating in a 105 day bandh both Gurung and Giri have gone underground. They have been charged in multiple cases under different sections of the Indian Penal Code and  the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Gurung has been declared an absconder by the court too.

However, many feel that Gurung will not take undue risk. “Gurung is not known for taking risks. Even during peak agitations he would avoid rallies and would pass on orders from his stronghold. When the heat grew he went underground. Will he take the risk just for the sake of appealing for votes?” questioned the observer.