BJP will fulfill dream of Gorkhas before2024 polls, assures Bimal Gurung

EOI, DARJEELING, OCTOBER 14, 2023 : Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung said on Saturday the BJP led Centre would fulfill the dreams of the Gorkha community before the election of 2024. Speaking on the occasion of the foundation day programme of the party at Malidhura in Darjeeling, the GJM president said the Centre and senior BJP leaders had given positive response to the demand for a separate state. 

"We are in regular communication with the concerned authorities in Delhi and have recieved positive feedback. The Centre will definitely give us something before 2024," Gurung said. 

Ahead of the Independence Day celebration on August 15, Gurung had said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi would mention Gorkhaland in his Red Fort rampart speech; but this did not happen. 

"We should not hurry and rush our demands. We are not going to Delhi regularly for leisure. We are doing our work which will see the light of day very soon," the GJM president said. The GJM observes its foundation day on October 7 each year. However due to the flash flood in Sikkim and Teesta in Kalimpong district on October 4, the GJM had postponed its 16th celebratory programme. 

The GJM had wanted to organize its foundation day programme in the Motor Stand area in Darjeeling town but were denied permission by the administration; forcing the party to organize it in the Malidhura School ground located below Singamari. 

On his going underground during the 2017 statehood movement and the subsequent allegation of betraying the agitation, Gurung said people should have analyzed and researched the background. 

"People think I left the movement, but no one knows that I was forced out of the hills because of a conspiracy. I have not forgotten our demand and will be the means to achieve it," he said. Gurung said it was now time for him to take to the streets to stop “corruption, nepotism and autocratic rule” of the ruling dispensation in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration area. "I will sacrifice my life for Gorkhaland. 

I appeal to the people to not forget our demand. The hills is turning from bad to worse and therefore I feel now I will have to rise and get back to the streets to struggle for justice," he said. 

The GJM president said he would announce a slew of political programs after the Dasai festival. Gurung also said he had warned about the ills of the dam on river Teesta when he helmed the GTA. 

"I had held meetings with concerned officials and warned them about the dams on the Teesta river. I had predicted of a dangerous situation arising, but no one paid heed to my warning," he said.