Gorkhaland demand will not be dropped: GJM

GJM today said the demand for separate Gorkhaland would not be dropped though it has been decided to carry forward the movement through dialogue and not bandhs after a truce with West Bengal government.
"The GJM will not drop the Gorkhaland demand as the GTA Act signed by the central government, West Bengal government has a clear provision which has Gorkhaland demand on record," Gorkha Janmukti Morcha President Bimal Gurung said in a Facebook post.
"When the Centre can accept the Telangana demand, why should we be told to let go of our statehood demand?" he asked.
He said that party representatives would be in Delhi for three days from December 21 with the statehood demand.

"There would be no bandhs for Gorkhaland in the Hills, Terai and Dooars and instead we will take our agitation to Delhi ... Gorkhaland is the final destination of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha," he said.
Referring to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's call for peace in the hills, he said: "I would like to tell Mamata Banerjee that I don't want any violence in the hills.

"I would like like to tell her that the GJM would want peaceful dialogue to solve the current political issue of the hills, Terai and Dooars," he said.
In an apparent reference to the crackdown in the hills by the administration with large-scale arrest being made of GJM members, he said, "I would like to ask the Chief Minister why she is using the police administration in her attempts to extend her political interests.

"This is not the right attitude of the Bengal government. Her politics should be based on principles."
Gurung, in an apparent reference to the formation of the Lepcha Development Board, said: "I would also request Mamata Banerjee not to create division within the communities of the hills. If so many development boards come up then how will GTA function?
"Whenever she comes to Darjeeling...Her remarks, like there will be no division of Bengal, hurt the sentiments of the people. How long can this continue?"
Referring to the 50 units of Trinamool Congress opened in Darjeeling, Gurung said: "The local TMC is trying to spoil the peaceful environment in the hills."

"Local TMC leaders have no credibility and the CM must look at their history. Where have they come from? They are being led by Maoists who have come from Nepal. Why does not the Bengal government check this fact?" he asked.
He said that the GJM would hold a public meeting in Kalimpong on November 9. "It will prove that it is the largest political party in the hills.