At Trinamool Martyrs' Day rally in Kolkata, Anit Thapa promises to support Mamata to develop hills

PTI, EOI, DARJEELING, JULY 21, 2022 : Addressing the martyrs' day rally of Trinamool Congress in Kolkata on Thursday, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration chief executive Anit Thapa pledged to follow the footsteps of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, to develop the hills.

"Since 1986 till 2017, we were shown false dreams and promises. There was destruction in the name of sentimental politics. However, I will stress on politics of positivity and reality. Today I pledge that till I am in active politics, I will extend all cooperation to Didi and work together for the betterment of the hills," said Thapa. Interestingly, political parties in the hills will also observe martyrs' day on July 27 to remember and pay homage to the people killed during the various phases of statehood agitation from 1986 to 2017.

Thapa's party, the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), won the GTA election in June and formed the council board.

"I have come from the hills and represent the GTA. Not many know or follow me. But, from 2017, I have followed the path shown by the Chief Minister to stabilize the hills," he said. 

Amid the sea of Trinamool supporters present in the rally held at Esplanade, there were also about 500 from the hill region.

"The martyrs don't have caste, colour or religion. I extend my wishes and homage to the martyr's families," said Thapa. 

Before being elected as the GTA chief executive, he had to struggle for five years to change the perception of the hill people, Thapa said. 

The GTA chief said it was a proud moment to be able to address a huge gathering in the heart of the city. 

"The hills were in turmoil, with the politics of destruction being the order of the day. However, I followed her (Mamata's) constructive politics. I struggled for five years but with Didi's blessing, today I stand before you with the mandate of the hill people after winning the GTA election," he said. 

In 2017, during the heights of the statehood agitation, Thapa and Binoy Tamang separated from the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha faction of Bimal Gurung, who went in to hiding. Thapa and Tamang led the second faction of GJM and took control of the GTA with support from the West Bengal government.

However, Tamang resigned as president of the second faction of the GJM in 2021 and joined the Trinamool Congress. The same year Thapa floated the BGPM. Infact, on Thapa's request, the West Bengal Chief Minister attended the oath taking programme of the GTA Sabha Sabhasads, on July 12.