GJM still divided just before crucial meet with state
Hours before Gorkhaland agitators are scheduled to meet the Mamata Banerjee government for a crucial meeting, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), the most important political party in the hills, appears to be divided on what to demand from the administration.
While its president Bimal Gurung, who has been accused under provisions of UA(P)A in two cases, has categorically said that he wants discussion only on a separate state and nothing else, GJM leader Binay Tamang who is leading the five-member Morcha team to the talks made it clear to HT that they will not go to the table with a closed mind.
The talks can pave the way for normalcy in the hills of north Bengal that are observing a record bandh since June 15. Internet services have been discontinued since June 19. Nice people, including a civic police volunteer, have lost their lives in this phase of the struggle for a separate state. CM Mamata Banerjee has vowed not to allow a separate state to be carved out.
“The agenda should only be Gorkhaland. If that does not happen the hill leaders should walk out of meeting. If the hill leaders do not discuss Gorkhaland in the meeting, they will not be allowed to return to the hills,” said Gurung in an audio clip circulated on the night of August 27. Gurung, who has been slapped UA(P)A provisions in two cases, issued the statement on Sunday evening from his hideout.
He also said that the letter GJM leaders sent to the state government expressing willingness to join the August 29 meeting was
WHILE BIMAL GURUNG HAS SAID HE ONLY WANTS A DISCUSSION ON A SEPARATE STATE, GJM LEADER BINAY TAMANG SAID THEY WILL KEEP AN OPEN MIND
written without consulting him. “These leaders are conspiring against me and the cause of Gorkhaland just to fulfil their vested interest and people should come to the roads to oppose them,” he Gurung alleged in the clip.
“We will put across our demands and the government will place their opinion. Gorkhaland is our primary demand. We will also discuss the impasse in the hills for which people are suffering,” added Tamang.
“We were doing everything after informing him. I don’t know why he is making these allegations. This is unfortunate,” Binay Tamang, chief coordinator of GJM told HT before leaving for Kolkata for the meeting.
Five GJM representatives will participate and it is clear that they are not coming to the table with a fixed agenda as dictated by the Morcha president. Those GJM leaders who will attend are Anit Thapa, RB Bhujel (both central committee members), Tshering Dahal who is the Morcha leader in Terai and Rohit Thapa, the leader in the Dooars region apart from Tamang. Apart from GJM, Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) that led a violent agitation for a separate state 1986 and 1988, will also join the meeting. So will Jan Andolan Party and representatives of the 15 development boards in the hills.