GJM was never sincere to Gorkhaland demand: Pradhan

KALIMPONG

23 Oct 2013

With the Gorkhaland Terrotorial Administration back to functioning thanks to the GJM’s turnaround decision, the Bharatia Gorkha Parisangh has called it a day from membership of the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee. Accusing the GJM of never being committed to the statehood demand, BGP national president Dr. Enos Das Pradhan said today at a press meet the joint forum had been formed to spearhead the statehood agitation while announcing the organisation’s withdrawal. He observed it would be nonsensical to remain in the GJAC as the GJM, despite the existence of the joint forum, discarding other constituent members’, decided to revert to the GTA.

He said, “The GJAC chapter has come to an end. The Morcha was never sincere to the statehood agenda. The day on which the GJM reverted to the GTA was a day of great betrayal; hence, we have quit from the GJAC.”

Admitting the GJAC has failed to deliver amid the current political scenario, the BGP president said a formal letter of withdrawal would be dispatched soon by his office.

Pradhan further said the BGP had always doubted the GJM’s sincerity and keeping this in mind, it has kept the Gorkhaland Task Force active even after the GJAC’s formation. He claimed of raising the GTF to the national level to continue with the statehood struggle, while revealing the GTF is likely to be tweaked into a new body called National Joint Action Committee for Gorkhaland.

“We will formally announce this at the congregation to be held in Delhi in December. At the moment, we are contacting various organisations in the hills on the matter,” informed Pradhan.

Speaking about the reasons for the failure of the GJAC, he said, “The GJAC was GJM-sponsored. This committee never got a chance to function independently. During the initial days, it was agreed upon that the GTA has failed to fulfill people’s aspirations and hence it would be scrapped at an opportune time. But the GJM has moved back to the GTA for reasons known only to them.”

Pradhan further asked, “For what reasons has the Morcha gone back to the GTA? Has its demand for release of members and sabhashads been met? Have more powers been given to the GTA, or have more funds been allotted?”

The BGP president also pointed out that although Bimal Gurung resigned as the GTA chief executive, he hasn’t given up its primary membership and this implies he can reassume his position. At the same time, he challenged the GJM to pass a resolution on Gorkhaland in the GTA Sabha within a week.

Pradhan further said the GJM’s highhandedness in the GJAC was becoming intolerable for the BGP. The Morcha withdrew its agitation and tried to cover up its plan of reverting to the GTA citing the tripartite meeting scheduled to be held today, he alleged, and demanded a clarification as to why the supposed meeting was not held.

The BGP chief also cautioned people to remain wary of the “anti-Gorkhaland forces” that are rearing their heads in the hills, while predicting the remaining GJAC constituents too would soon quit the forum.