Siliguri, Aug. 2: Five Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders today left for Delhi with the single-point agenda of statehood which they intend to discuss with several central ministers and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
“We are going to Delhi and would seek an appointment with the Union home minister and some other ministers of the central government. We also intend to meet UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, leaders of UPA allies and BJP leaders. This time, we are going with the sole agenda of Gorkhaland and would reiterate before the Centre that we don’t want to stay in Bengal and we want our own state,” said Roshan Giri, who is leading the team, at Bagdogra airport today.
“Our party has always believed in democracy and is organising a peaceful and democratic movement. But the state government is bringing in central forces, which indicates that the state wants to crush the aspirations of our people as well as our movement,” Giri said.
“People have come out on the streets spontaneously raising the demand for Gorkhaland and it would not be possible for the state to crush the movement. The state will have to part with the hills as we are not ready to stay in Bengal anymore,” the Morcha leader added.
Since last night, incidents of arson have been reported from different parts of Darjeeling. Two forest guest houses and a police camp were torched.
Asked about the arson incidents, Giri said: “None of us is involved in these incidents of arson. Unfortunately, it has become a habit to blame the Morcha whenever violent incidents happen in hills.”
Asked whether the hill party would continue with the agitation if no specific assurance comes from the Centre, Giri said: “We are yet to get appointments of dignitaries in Delhi and meet them. Once we have those meetings, we will inform our party president in Darjeeling. It is the president who would take the final decision. As of now, the movement is on and from tomorrow, we would commence the indefinite strike across the hills.”
Kalimpong MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri, who is also Morcha’s publicity secretary, blamed the Mamata Banerjee government for interfering in the GTA. “The functioning of the GTA has come to a standstill…. The state has consistently interfered in the GTA,” he said.
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