GSP stages Lalkothi gherao over Gorkhaland demand; Anit Thapa says responsibility rests with BJP

Amitava Banerjee, MP, Oct 10, 2026, Darjeeling: Labelling the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) as a major obstacle to the formation of Gorkhaland, different hill political camps are protesting the continuation of this semi-autonomous body. The Gorkhaland Sangram Party (GSP) on Friday launched a Lalkothi (GTA Secretariat) gherao programme.

“Lalkothi is the seat of corruption. All conspiracies along with corrupt practices are launched from here, hence the Lalkothi gherao. The GTA has to be scrapped immediately. In future also there will be gheraoes, dharna, hunger strikes and other forms of agitations that the constitution bestows us the right to launch. Treat this as a warning. If required we can give our lives for Gorkhaland,” cautioned Sanjay Thulung of the GSP.

A rally was organised by the GSP from Clubside, culminating in a gherao at Lalkothi amid chants of Gorkhaland slogans. A large police contingent was posted at the gates of Lalkothi.

In another development, Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) president Anit Thapa on Friday said: “The responsibility of delivering Gorkhaland now rests with the BJP and its allies, after we have relinquished the GTA, which the party had projected as an obstacle to the separate-state demand.”

Thapa was speaking after a BGPM delegation led by him met Central government-appointed interlocutor Pankaj Kumar Singh at a hotel in Darjeeling.

“This was my second meeting with the interlocutor. We discussed the long-standing demands of the Gorkhas at length. I explained the ground realities, the importance of regionalism and the aspirations of the people in the Hills,” Thapa said.

Stating that relinquishing the GTA had opened the way for dialogue, he expressed hope that the ongoing process would address the aspirations of the people.

Taking a dig at the BJP, Thapa said the party had received public support on the promise of delivering Gorkhaland.

“People voted for the BJP to achieve Gorkhaland. My responsibility was to relinquish the GTA, which was labelled an obstacle. Now, the responsibility rests with the BJP and its allies. We support Gorkhaland, but the alliance must fulfil its responsibility,” he said.

He also said a drafting committee was constituted under Singh’s leadership to work towards resolving the long-standing Gorkha demands. Thapa expressed confidence that the draft prepared by the committee would safeguard Gorkha interests.