CPRM to take statehood movement forward post Dusshera

PRADIP LOHAGUN

KALIMPONG

9 Oct 2013

The core committee of the Kalimpong CPRM unit today held a meeting where it was decided to intensify the statehood agitation after Dusshera. The meet was presided over by CPRM Kalimpong unit president Kishore Pradhan and saw the participation of vice president JB Rai, unit secretary Mohan Paudyal, Santosh Pradhan and Sudan Pradhan among others.

Committee members discussed the current political situation in the hills and resolved to take the statehood movement forward.

Speaking to reporters later, Pradhan said the Kalimpong CPRM committee will continue with the agitation and intensify it in spite of the centre and state government saying nothing final can be decided on the issue before next year’s general election.

He said, “We will work both on the organisational and political fronts. We are not interested to intensify our agitation only when the prospects of statehood being achieved seem high. We will continually launch activities to show the centre and state how serious we are on our demand for a separate state.”

Asserting no development work and administrative setup will suppress the statehood demand, Pradhan further said, “Let the government go on with its anti-Gorkhaland policies and practices, but we will prove there are no alternatives to the formation of a separate state.”

Throwing some light on plans ahead, the CPRM leader said, “New programmes will be launched after Dusshera. Leaflet distribution, poster campaigning, demonstrations and rallies will begin to press for our rightful demand.”

On being asked about the tripartite meeting scheduled on October 23, Pradhan said, “Our meeting did not discuss the tripartite meeting and GTA as GJAC constituents can pursue their own programmes.”

The Kalimpong CPRM president also said the party will expand its activities to bolster workers in the unorganised sector. He added party workers belonging to various affiliates will also be educated on the organisational and political strategy of the CPRM.

The CPRM meeting also observed a minute’s silence in memory of party member Prem Kumar Pradhan who recently passed away.