On Martyrs' Day, Anit Thapa promises to pursue Gorkhaland cause without loss of life

EOI, DARJEELING, JULY 27, 2022: On the occasion of Martyrs' Day on Wednesday, Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha president Anit Thapa said he would continue to pursue the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland but without the loss of life and without causing inconvenience to people. 

Martyrs' Day is observed on July 27 every year in the hills of Darjeeling by political parties to mark the killing of people in police firing in Kalimpong, while participating in an event to burn the Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty of 1950. 

The call for the agitation had been given by former Gorkha National Liberation Front president Subash Ghisingh, saying the pact was detrimental to the identity of the Gorkha people. In the 1986 agitation more than 1200 people were killed, while during the second phase of the statehood agitation from 2007 to 2017 led by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, 17 more died. All the dead are considered as martyrs for the Gorkhaland cause. 

Addressing a Martyrs' Day programme in the Gorkha Ranga Mancha Bhawan (Bhanu Bhawan), organized by his party during the day, Thapa said he would not allow a single death for Gorkhaland.

"When I embarked on my political journey in 2017 with the vision of politics of reality, I faced hurdles and resentments .Allegations were leveled against me. I did not give up and took the brickbat in my stride to do away with politics of sentiment. Henceforth, I don't want my people to lose their beloved ones. I will pursue the dreams of the Gorkhas, but in the right and democratic way," he said. Thapa who was elected chief executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration after the recent election announced jobs for family members of those people who died during the statehood agitation from 2007 to 2017. 

"We have already started the process of recruiting family members of the martyrs in the GTA. And soon one member of the martyr's family will get job according to their qualification," he said.

During the tenure of the erstwhile Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council under Subash Ghisingh, family members of the people who died in the 1986 agitation had been inducted in the council body. The BGPM president however said past leaders had failed to earnestly take care of the martyr's families, instead inviting them once every year in the Martyrs' Day event to felicitate them with gifts. He asserted many of the family members were reluctant to attend such felicitation programmes.

Thapa announced that a four-member committee would be formed to visit the families of all the martyrs to oversee their conditions.

"The committee will visit the house of each martyr. They will assess the condition of the family members, their children and so forth and place a report to me. It is now my responsibility to look after the welfare of the family members. I want that the family members come to attend Martyrs' Day event willingly," he said.

The GNLF organized the Martyrs' Day programme separately, saying the true value of the sacrifice of the martyrs would be realized only after achieving the dreams and aspiration of the hills people.

"We have our own MirJafars in our community because of whom we have not been able to achieve our dreams. However, we have faith in our Member of Parliament who we elected to take us to our goal," said GNLF spokesperson Y Lama.

GJM president Bimal Gurung on the other hand observed Martyrs Day at Malidhura below Singamari by holding a medical camp for the villagers.