BGP to organise Gorkha congregation in Delhi this Dec

PRADIP LOHAGUN

KALIMPONG

1 Oct 2013

The Bharatia Gorkha Parisangh has decided to hold a Gorkha Congregation in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan from December 14 to 16 as part of its ‘Delhi Chalo’ campaign for Gorkhaland.

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.