Gorkha forum refers to Kashmir for state

TT, 11 Nov 2019, Siliguri: The National Gorkhaland Committee, an apolitical platform of Gorkhas across India, will ask the Centre to show the "political will" similar to the revocation of special status for Jammu & Kashmir and meet the demand for Gorkhaland.

The representatives of the committee held a meeting here on Sunday and said they would remind the BJP about the promises by the party in the Parliament elections in 2014 and 2019 on the Gorkhaland issue.

"We appreciate the political will demonstrated by the NDA government to resolve the issue of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. We want the Centre to show the same political will for Gorkhaland. For a permanent political solution that would have constitutional validation, it is necessary that the separate state of Gorkhaland is formed," said Lt Gen. (retd) Shakti Gurung, the chairman of the committee.

A number of resolutions were passed at the meeting which would be handed to Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, said a committee functionary.

"We want the demand to be addressed at the earliest. Also, the Centre should initiate talks by involving all stakeholders to break the deadlock and arrive in a political solution for peace and national integrity. We will hand over our resolutions to the MP so that he can take it up with the government," the NGC chairman added.