Students to lead ‘Mission Gorkhaland’ with awareness campaigns

Darjeeling

19 Sep 2013

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today launched its ‘Mission Gorkhaland’ that will see students above 18 years of age engaging in awareness campaigns on the statehood demand both in the hills and elsewhere.

Addressing a gathering of Classes X and XII students at the Mt. Hermon ground near Singamari, GJM president Bimal Gurung said, “From Saturday we will start our ‘Mission Gorkhaland’ campaign. Students aged 18 and above will motivate and mobilise their younger compatriots and educate them aware on the statehood demand. Children are the future of the hills and they must be made aware of our rightful demand. They will be the ones to run the separate state when it is achieved.”

Students in groups of 20 to 25 will be required to visit schools in different areas of the hills once a week to indoctrinate fellow students about the need and usefulness of a separate state.

The GJM president also announced a team comprising some 21 students will soon be leaving for New Delhi to meet central leaders, including members of opposition parties, to press for the Gorkhaland demand.

“About 21 students will go to Delhi soon and try to meet different leaders. The primary agenda will be to press for the statehood demand. For this trip, we will request school teachers of the Hills to donate a day’s salary,” said Gurung.

He also made known his disappointment with educational institutions for forcing the GJM to exempt them from strikes.

“In the case of Telangana, students’ education was hampered for almost five years, but their sacrifice did not go in vain. Educational institutions must not look at the commercial aspect only,” said the GJM chief.

He also said that if the necessity arose in future, schools would be allowed to open only for holding examinations.

“Undoubtedly, education is important, but the aspiration for a separate state is bigger. At the same time, I request teachers to conduct extra classes for those students who would miss studies due to participation in the Mission Gorkhaland campaign,” said Gurung.

The GJM chief also touched on the issue of the central government’s assurance of a tripartite meeting to diffuse the situation prevailing in the hills even as he warned of negative consequences if the union government failed to keeps its promise.

“The central government must keep its promise and take initiatives to conduct three-way talks soon. I have already said we will intensify our agitation after October 20 if the talks are not held. The central and state governments both do not understand our democratic movement. But there will come a time when the land will seek blood,” said Gurung ominously.

Further, he pointed out the state government’s highhanded move of arresting innocent people will not be tolerated after October 20.

“We will retaliate. The police are making blanket arrests now, but after October 20, we will resist even at the cost of our lives,” concluded the GJM chief.