Thapa issues veiled alert' to state govt - He asks state to not play 'crooked politics'

SNS, KURSEONG, 1 DECEMBER 2020: In what seemed like a veiled word of caution to the state government, the General Secretary of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (Binoy Tamang faction), Anit Thapa, today said that a sincere man, who has been working for the development of the Gorkha community, should not be teased.

According to him all he wants to do is to develop and take the Gorkha community forward by maintaining good relations with the state government.

Addressing a public meeting here today, Mr Thapa said: "I have been working honestly for the Gorkha community's uplift, and an honest and sincere man should not be teased. Several development works are being undertaken in the Hills with the help of the chief minister," Mr Thapa said, adding that they need the state government's cooperation in the same spirit.

"Keeping in mind all these things, the government should also not apply 'kolte-niti' (partial politics) with us," he said.

Targeting statements made by leaders of the other faction of the Morcha led by Bimal Gurung Mr Thapa said he had come forward against the "bad image" or policies of the then Morcha president,

Bimal Gurung. "He always gave priority to his chair in the name of Gorkhaland. In the coming days too, I will not allow Bimal Gurung or other such leaders to fool the hill people in the name of Gorkhaland," he said.

According to him, people were being befooled in the name of Gorkhaland for the past several years.

Mr Thapa said that in the 2017 agitation, he had "jumped into the fire," for the interest of the Gorkha community. "As such, those leaders who have spent their three years in a luxurious manner with the funds of the GTA, have no right to ask for GTA accounts," he said.

"In the name of Gorkhaland, these leaders destroyed 13 precious lives of youths, tea workers, drivers, tourism, education etc. In these 13 years, they (Gurung faction) have destroyed everything in Darjeeling Hills." Mr Thapa claimed.

According to him, people need not worry as they, under the leadership of Binoy Tamang, had been developing the hills.

Mr Thapa also iterated his stance that a separate state of Gorkhaland can be achieved only through an apolitical intellectual forum and not through political men or organisations.

"I consider Gorkhaland as a mother and I will not allow anyone to auction Mother Gorkhaland in the market of votes and elections," he said.

He further said that if Roshan Giri (leader of the Gurung camp) wants to work under the leadership of Binoy Tamang sincerely and honestly, he will request Mr Tamang to accept him in their camp.