Five decimal land can turn hills turbulent, says Bimal Gurung

YOWAN MOTHAY, EOI, KALIMPONG, 11 SEPTEMBER 2023 : The issue of five decimals of land can make the hills of Darjeeling turbulent, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung said in Kalimpong on Sunday. “So this chapter on five decimals of land should be closed.” 

Gurung said the issue of five decimals of land was controversial. The people in tea gardens were facing problems for a long time. He said the West Bengal Cabinet was trying forcibly to impose the formula of five decimal of land. 

“The land of the tea gardens here is the land mixed with the blood and sweat of the ancestors of the present tea garden dwellers,” he said, urging everyone to oppose the five decimal of land. 

“Today they are trying to create refugees by imposing on the people five decimal of land. Those people who impose five decimals of land are the people who have land documents in the municipal and khasmahal areas. So, they don’t feel anything about it.” 

Gurung said 100 acres to 200 acres were being provided to big hotels, but people who were working day and night were being provided with only five decimals. 

“On the third foundation day of the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha, what the BGPM president said in his speech regarding five decimals of land, what the secretary said and what the MLA said were all different,” Gurung said. 

He also accused the BGPM leaders of inciting conflict. The GJM president was in Kalimpong to pay homage to Ranmaya Tamang (Karu Badi), a GJM cadre, who died in an accident on Saturday.