PRADIP LOHAGUN
KALIMPONG
1 Oct 2013
The BGP plans to gather thousands of
Gorkhas in the national capital to press for the separate state demand.
BGP president Dr. Enos Das Pradhan briefed the press today in Kalimpong
on the Delhi Chalo for Gorkhaland campaign.
He said, “We earlier organised
demonstrations in Delhi with limited number of participants to press for
the demand of Gorkhaland, but they failed to make much impact. This
time we have targeted the winter session of Parliament to form a
congregation of thousands of Gorkhas at the Ramlila Maidan. Whichever
party or organisation one belongs to, whichever religion one believes
in, every Gorkha is welcome at the Ramlila Maidan.”
Pradhan also said the BGP plans to
involve Sahitya Academy members for the congregation. He appealed
artists, musicians and litterateurs to represent their respective
sectors in the gathering.
The BGP president said a huge gathering
in the national capital will provide immense support to the Gorkhaland
demand. Stating power display plays a major role in any movement, he
said, “Display of power has lots of space in this country, we can make
use of it. It is a useful strategy but should be followed with talks.”
Pradhan said the statehood demand should
not be concentrated in the Darjeeling hills only and added, “Thousands
of Gorkhas shouting for Gorkhaland in Delhi in the presence of MPs will
have a positive effect.”
Meanwhile, the BGP president rubbished
reported talks about seeking a Union Territory status for Darjeeling. He
said, “We are not concerned with a UT. We don’t know where this issue
came from. We have only one demand, and that is Gorkhaland.”
Pradhan further said, “Does a UT solve
the problem of our identity? Does it provide us political security? Only
a separate state can address all these problems.”
He also said GJM chief Bimal Gurung has
been urged to withdraw his decision to resign from the post of GJAC
president and the forum’s future course of action will be prepared after
he gives an answer.
Further, Pradhan condemned recent
reports about Christian Gorkhas being denied certification as Gorkhas,
saying the move is an old ploy of the central and state governments of
playing along divisive lines. He said the same has been done in the case
of Lepchas and now Christian Gorkhas are being divided on the basis of
religion.
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