Invitation for talks with eye on LS polls: Harkabahadur Chettri

Report by: 

PRADIP LOHAGUN

KALIMPONG

25 Aug 2013

The renewed agitation for statehood in the hills that has been on since the past one month does not seem to have move the central government much. But at the same time, it is ready to sit for talks with those demanding the new states of Karvi Anglong, Bodoland and Kamtapur, among others. In the backdrop of such a situation, the strategy for the Gorkhaland agitation must be prepared after considering several significant aspects.

The above observations were made today by GJM spokesperson and Kalimpong MLA Dr Harkabahadur Chettri while interacting with journalists in Kalimpong.

Chettri acknowledged the fact that Gorkhaland cannot be created overnight and said, “The movement has to be taken forward in a sustainable manner. The Gorkhaland demand is not an issue that can be solved with the stroke of a pen. We have to observe the political moves of the central and state governments and launch effective programmes.”

He revealed discussions on these lines have been going on in meetings under the aegis of the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee, but declined to elaborate further.

Notably, even as the central government has reportedly invited those demanding statehood elsewhere for talks, the GJM has been left out. Commenting on this, Chettri said, “The centre is thinking about 2014. Mamata is also doing the same. She is not opposing out agitation; in fact she is happy with things here. She is just looking for an opportunity to increase the number of her MPs by showing she has kept the Gorkhaland agitation under control with an iron hand. We are agitating for Gorkhaland here whereas the centre and the state are busy making calculations for next year’s polls. It is because of this selfish interest they have not bothered to invite us for talks.”

The GJM spokesperson remarked that according scant respect to the people’s aspirations in a democracy reveals the petipness of the ruling establishment. When the people are raising a constitutional demand, the government isn’t ready even for talks and this clearly exposes the true nature of the government, he said.

“Bengal is a champion in diplomacy,” said Chettri. “The Gorkhas have been victim to Bengal’s communal politics and hegemony till date, but this is not the case with other aspirants for statehood.”

Further, the Kalimpong MLA noted that most other statehood aspirants who have been invited for talks by the centre are Congress ruled. “Assam is PM Manmohan Singh’s parliamentary region, and the Congress has called them (the parties demanding separate states in Assam) for talks with an eye on the 2014 Lok Sabha elections,” claimed Chettri.

Addressing a public meeting later in the day, Chettri lashed out at the state government, saying it is almost impossible to believe that the government, which couldn’t provide funds to the GTA, would do so for the Lepcha Development Council.

“The CM’s visit to the hills is to create a division between the Gorkhas and Lepchas,” according to Chettri.

He also came down hard on those who used the NBSTC bus service, saying, “Many leaders and supporters are in jails, while elderly people, youths and even children are out on the streets demanding Gorkhaland. But a few selfish people are boarding the state government-provided buses, which is demoralising the agitators. Due to such selfish acts, we ourselves are providing the government a space to hit out at us. If there is even a little self-respect and pride in yourselves, let the buses go empty tomorrow onwards.”

The GJM spokesperson also appealed to the people to refrain from accepting rations that the government has announced for distribution across 17 outposts on Monday.