CPRM Delhi dharna for state

Vivek Chettri, TT,  09 Dec 2019, Darjeeling: The Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists started a two-day dharna in New Delhi on Sunday for creation of Gorkhaland -- a demonstration that is bound to put pressure on the BJP which was backed by the CPRM in the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat this year.

The dharna was launched days after the GNLF had asked the Centre to spell out before 2021 Bengal Assembly polls the details of "permanent political solution" the BJP had mentioned in its manifesto for the recent general election.

The GNLF, too, had supported the BJP's Raju Bista in the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat.

Addressing the Delhi dharna on Sunday, Kishore Pradhan, a central committee member of the CPRM, said: "The `permanent political solution' could be other things for other (parties), we are not bothered. But, for us, it is a separate state of GorkhalandThe 2019 manifesto by the BJP reads: "We are committed to work towards finding a per- manent political solution to the issue of Darjeeling Hills, Siliguri, Terai and Dooars regionAround 100 people took part in the demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Day 1 with many of them holding placards that read: "No GTA, No Sixth Schedule, No any set-up within Bengal, We need only separate state of Gorkhaland"We are not a party that will compromise with other political party or power. We stand on our own feet and we are not concerned about power and chair," said Pradhan.

He said the CPRM had decided to support the BJP candidate in Darjeeling following a dialogue with senior BJP leaders Amit Shah and Kailash Vijayvargiya.

"It is after the GJM (Bimal Gurung faction) and BJP leaders talked about finding a permanent political solution, did we decide to support them," said Pradhan.

The CPRM had fielded its president and former Darjeeling MP R.B. Rai in the Darjeeling seat, but he withdrew the nomination at the last moment.

However, in the bypoll to the Darjeeling Assembly seat, the CPRM didn't support GNLF leader Neeraj Zimba who contested on the BJP ticket..