Gurung says can’t trust other parties, hill unity under cloud

GURUNG SAID THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT GNLF AND JAP WOULD NOT DITCH THE ISSUE OF SEPARATE GORKHALAND MIDWAY

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president Bimal Gurung on Thursday seemed to break the growing solidarity between hill parties, who were united in their demand for a separate state, when he questioned the intentions of other folds.

Gurung took a shot at Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) by saying that he cannot trust a party that tied up with Trinamool Congress just a month ago for the civic polls.

He also attacked Harka Bahadur Chettri, the chief of Jan Andolan Party, and referred to him as “the leader of another party who is keen to fulfil his personal interest.”

“There is no guarantee that these two parties would not ditch the issue of Gorkhaland midway,” Gurung said adding that there was “no need for allparty meetings in the hills”.

GNLF and JAP leaders were quick to hit back at Gurung. “Bimal Gurung is sold out. This time we won’t allow him to sell the dream and aspiration of 1.5 crore Indian Gorkhas,” said Niraj Zimba, spokesperson of GNLF, the second most powerful political entity in the hills.

“We are in touch with all the political parties excluding GJM to spearhead the movement collectively,” said Bishal Rai, the JAP youth wing president.

Gurung’s statement, within 72 hours of the last all-party meeting, has left some key leaders of his own party, wondering why he chose to imperil an intensifying movement that put the state government under pressure.

“I don’t know about the development and I need to know what Bimal Gurung has said,” GJM general secretary, Roshan Giri, told Hindustan Times .

Gurung’s outburst came at a time when the entire hills were seen rallying together to carry on the struggle for Gorkhaland.

“Never in the past did the Gorkhaland movement receive such support. Gurung’s statement against this backdrop is unwarranted,” said political observer Anupam Moktana.

A few GJM and JAP leaders told Hindustan Times that Gurung called the all-party meeting when he was unsure of the support he or his party would get. But the huge turnout on the streets in support of Gorkhaland has lulled him into believing that the turnout was expression of support for his own leadership.

The all party exercise was seen as a move that conveyed a strong message to the state government that is dead against even considering the possibility of a separate state. The indefinite bandh called by the GJM in Darjeeling hills entered its ninth day on Friday.