No meeting Governor on `political' visit, says Gurung

SNS, SILIGURI, 27 JUNE 21 :  Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) leader Bimal Gurung, who has left the BJP and joined hands with the Trinamul Congress, has said that his party representatives would not meet Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is in Darjeeling presently.

Talking to a Siliguri-based news portal a few days ago, Mr Gurung had said: "The Governor has come to Darjeeling after BJP MPJohn Barla raised the issue of a separate state of North Bengal. Being a constitutional head, we welcome his visit to the Hills, but he has been working here politically. Our party will not meet him. Everyone, including the Prime Minister, coming here has only given us assurances, but has done nothing finally. Give something for us as per the promises," Mr Gurung said, adding, "Being the people's representative from the Hills, Terai and the Dooars, Raju Bista, for whom I managed an MP ticket, will have to fulfill his promises."

"We are not opposing John Barla's demand. But the BJP and Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, who is supporting Barla, should make their stand clear. The reason is as Barla has been raising the issue, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh has said that his party was against division of Bengal."

"I have demanded Permanent Political Solution for the Hills, Terai and the Dooars. I will concentrate on the matter as the next course of action," added Mr Gurung, who is now close to chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

Significantly, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista has, on the other hand, said that the Gorkhaland Territorial  Administration (GTA) had failed to fulfill the aspirations of the people from Darjeeling and the Dooars. "Instead of ushering in development, it became a vehicle for TMC to run its writ and a den of corruption," Mr Bista has tweeted. Adding to the MP's complaints, Governor Dhankhar also tweeted: "Earlier, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista and now MLA Neeraj Zimba complained of corruption at Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. Democracy trampled as no elections since 2017. Sought CAG audit to expose corruption & ensure guilty are severely dealt."

As Mr Gurung talked of the "political" role of the Governor, Mr Bista said: "Unfortunately, the Chief Minister of West Bengal acts in a partisan way and functions as the representative of only a select group of people. Because of which, the common citizens have no one to listen to or address their issues. I believe, Governor is the only one who is concerned about the welfare of the people in the state, as the elected government seems to have abdicated their responsibilities, so people are going to meet him with a request to address their grievances."

Notably, speaking to reporters here yesterday, BJP state president Dilip Ghosh, citing movements for Gorkhaland and Kamtapur, did not rule out the possibility of demands for a separate state coming up in the future. "In the future, if the present state government does not last in West Bengal, there will be no question of state atrocities, grievances and no demand for separate states," he said.

Mr Gurung also said: "As far as my political knowledge goes, the BJP has raised the issue just to earn political mileage, after saffron party leaders joined the Trinamul Congress following the Assembly poll results that have upset the BJP."