Low-key Hill events mark Martyrs' Day

SNS, 27 JULY 2020 : The today remembered ma rtrys, wh o laid down their lives during the Gorkhaland agitation in the eighties. The Saheed Diwas events were, however, low-keyaffairs across the Hills, given the Covid-19 pandemic.

While Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha leader Binoy Tamang paid homage to the martyrs at the 'Saheed Bedi' at the Gorkha Ranga Manch, the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) deferred its programmes and instead asked people to light lamps and candles at the nearest martyrs' columns by maintaining social distancing.

"The sacrifice of the martyrs is precious.There is land, due to which I have an identity, and to save it you sacrificed your life. It is because of your sacrifice that I can proudly say that I am a Gorkha. But my tribute to the martyrs will be a true one only when we will be the owners of this land," Mr Tamang said.

Martyrs' Day is observed on this day every year in remembrance of the 13 people who died in a clash with the police in Kalimpong in the year 1986. GNLF cadres were protesting the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty back then when they clashed with the police at Engine Danra, 9th Mile. Also, around 1200 people is said to have died during the Gorkhaland agitation then. Martyrs who died in the agitation led by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha from the year 2007 onwards are also paid homage on this day.

On the other hand, GNLF president Mann Ghisingh said in a press release, "We had planned programmes on Saheed Diwas, but keeping in mind the one-week lockdown since yesterday, we postponed the same. I have been saying that saheeds should not be remembered for only a day as the proper way to pay homage to those who have laid down their lives since 1986 is through Gorkhaland. Till our community gets justice, the martyrs will not get justice, for which the GNLF has been working."

According to Mr Ghisingh, they had planned a programme at Kalimpong today. He said they had plans to meet families of the martyrs and pay their respects.

In a video message, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista also paid homage to the martyrs and said that he would do whatever it takes to make their dreams come true.

Meanwhile, in Kurseong, the Trinamul Congress also marked the day today.

According to TMC leader Pradip Pradhan, people have always been fooled and misled by different political parties since the 1986 Gorkhaland agitation in the name of Gorkhaland.

"As such, to alert the people or to bring about awareness among the hill people and the hill leadership, political leadership should not mislead the people on the Gorkhaland issue. Instead, we should always believe in practical politics, work and issues," he said.

Morcha leader and Chairman of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, Anit Thapa and Kurseong MLA Rohit Sharma also observed the day at Durbin Dara in Kurseong and paid homage to the martyrs by lighting lamps and offering flower garlands at the martyrs' memorial.

"No one knows when the dream of these martyrs will come true, but I pray and wish that the dream does come true," Mr Thapa said.