GJM to abandon violence for talks: Bimal Gurung

KURSEONG

7 Oct 2013

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung today addressed party supporters at the Kurseong motor stand on the occasion of the GJM’s seventh foundation day. He announced the GJM has decided to abandon the idea of violence and pursue talks instead.

According to Gurung, the tripartite talks on October 23 will be fruitful. He said all the party affiliates have been stressing to launch an agitation in Delhi and the party would comply by leading lakhs of supporters to the national capital.

Commenting on TMC leader Gautam Deb’s assurance of making casual workers permanent, the GJM chief wondered how that would be done given the fact the workers are under the jurisdiction of the GTA. He noted, “Soon after the formation of the GJM, the interests of casual workers were given priority and we succeeded in raising their salaries by quite an extent.”

Gurung also urged government employees to stop worrying about their salaries that have been stalled following the month-long bandh. He said if the state government does not pay them, the employees would be paid from the GTA’s fund.

Further, the Morcha president accused Gautam Deb and hill TMC leaders such as Nanita Gautam and Binny Sharma of conspiring to form a committee for operating the GTA. “I resigned from the GTA but all the others are still with it. All the MLAs, GTA members and councilors still belong to us,” he asserted. Gurung also slammed former party members who have joined the TMC of being opportunistic and self-centered.