Gorkha Janamukti Morcha threatens to launch movement in Darjeeling again for statehood

KOLKATA: The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha ( GJM) has threatened to launch a fresh movement in the Darjeeling Hills to realise their demand for a separate state for the Gorkhas.

GJM leader Roshan Giri told reporters on Wednesday that they will organise a meeting at Darjeeling on January 20 and at Kurseong on January 27 as their preparation for launching the fresh agitation for getting the statehood for the Gorkhas.

"We will launch the fresh movement from February and before that we will hold two meetings at Darjeeling and Kurseong. Our demand for a separate state for the Gorkhas is much older that the demand for a separate Telengana state and once the Centre accepts the Telengana statehood demand, they should grant our demand too," Giri said.

The GJM leader also pointed it out that they had informed the Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde about their decision to go for a fresh movement in the Hills for obtaining the statehood demand.

Asked whether they had informed the chief minister Mamata Banerjee about their agitation programme, Giri said "No. If necessary we will inform the chief minister too about our agitation and movement for getting the statehood." Giri also claimed that the issue of a separate state for the Gorkhas was there in the tripartite agreement among the Centre, the state government and the GJM.

"We had clearly mentioned in the agreement that we want a separate state and both the Centre and West Bengal government are aware of this," he claimed.

Interstingly Mamata Banerjee will visit Darjeeling and North Bengal for four days from January 28 and it is expected that the GJM leadership will meet her in the Hills during her visit and convey their decision to go for a fresh movement. ends.