Local Muslims back GJM demand
A section of Muslims has supported the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s (GJM) demand for a separate statehood.
Around 2,000 Muslims, who identified themselves as Gorkha Muslims, on Sunday took out a protest march holding placards which read “We want Gorkhaland and we support Bimal Gurung”, indicating their support to the GJM’s call for Gorkhaland.
The GJM has been demanding that a separate state be carved out for the ethnic Gorkha and Lepcha population in northern West Bengal.
“We support the issue and demand for Gorkhaland. Muslims, numbering around 20,000-25,000 here, identify themselves as Gorkha Muslims and live peacefully. We have been living here for generations and do not face any problems with the Gorkhas,” said Mustaq Usmani, a local businessman who participated in the march.
Local Muslims echo the view of the GJM MLA from Darjeeling, Amar Singh Rai, that the state government has failed to address the problems of infrastructure, education and health in the hills and has mishandled the current situation.
“The situation could have been handled in a more peaceful way. By sending police, paramilitary and the army, the state government is trying to intimidate the local population and present a political movement as a law and order situation,” Rai said, appealing to the chief minister to handle the ongoing situation in a better way.
West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged that the GJM had links with terror organisations based in northeast India. Rai termed the allegation as “laughable”.
Rai said his party was open to talks with the Centre with two preconditions. “The GJM wants security forces deployed throughout Darjeeling to be withdrawn, and the sole discussion point has to be creation of Gorkhaland.”
He said the state government can also be part of these talks if these preconditions were met. “This time, we will not settle for anything less than fullfledged statehood and will not consider creation of any autonomous body like the GTA or its predecessor,” he said replying to a question from Business Standard.