Binoy raises Gorkhaland pitch, GNLF hits back- Ajoy Edwards urges Tamang to stop working for party that opposed statehood

SNS, 17 NOVEMBER 2019, Darjeeling: As the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (Binoy Tamang camp) on Saturday said that the formation of a separate state of Gorkhaland would be the only permanent political solution' to the Hill problems, and that they would mount pressure on the central government on several issues, the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) on Sunday hit back and asked the party to first fulfill promises it made to the people during the last parliamentary elections.

Following a central committee meeting of the party in Kalimpong yesterday, Mr Tamang had maintained that they would pressure the Centre on issues like tribal status for 11 different communities and introduction of a Bill for Gorkhaland in the winter session of Parliament, while also demanding that the BJP come clear on the 'permanent political solution' it has been talking of for the Hills.

In a letter addressed to Mr Tamang, the Darjeeling sub-division GNLF president, Ajoy Edwards, said, "You (Mr Tamang) had yesterday said that a letter would be written to the president of my party as well as our MP and MLA Raju Bistha and Niraj Zimba. So, I also decided to write a letter to you on behalf of my party.

You have said that you would write these letters to assert that for you and your party, Gorkhaland is the only permanent solution, and I am amazed that for a party that worked against the platform of Gorkha unity and actively worked and campaigned for the Trinamul Congress, which is vehemently opposed to any demerger from Bengal, would have any moral right to dictate to the Gorkha United Platform as to what our demands and strategy is."

We are actively working for our people so that they can finally live a life of freedom and dignity in their home. We are in touch with senior BJP leaders through our MP and we are hopeful that things will be fruitful," he said.

In the letter, Mr Edwards also highlights the electoral promises the Morcha (Tamang camp) had made even after losing the elections."Some of the promises made by you include parja-patta for the tea garden workers, wages of the 105 days of strike (in 2017), and minimum wages for tea garden workers. You had also promised DI Fund land solution, with the Bengal Chief Minister also promising on two occasions while campaigning that she would find a solution for the 'Gorkha Identity Crisis. Are you pressuring her like we are doing with our partners?" Mr Edwards says in the letter."Apart from that you had also said that you would resign if Raju Bista is elected and it has been six months now that he has been elected." he said: Just like the GNLF party forgave and forgot all the atrocities that you and your previous party president had done to us for the larger interest of the people and our place, so I too believe that all parties have to be united to be able to forgive and forget, then only a Permanent Solution will happen," Mr Edwards told Mr Tamang in the letter."If we are 'truly united, no force can come against us. I understand your party's compulsion, including the numerous cases that are pending against you and our party workers, but what is court dates and may be a little jail time compared to a Permanent Political Solution for our people and lasting peace for a hundred years in our region?" he added.

According to Mr Edwards, if Mr Tamang was sincere towards a demerger from Bengal, then he would show it with his actions by not working with.