GJM supporters burn copies of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council Accord of 1988

Jan. 21: Supporters of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today burnt copies of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council Accord of 1988 even as Bimal Gurung, the party president, warned against granting another extension to Subash Ghisingh as the DGHC administrator.

Hundreds of people joined Gurung at Chowrastha in Darjeeling at precisely 11.19am. The Morcha chief warned the Bengal government against unrest in the hills, if the state continued to favor Ghisingh.

“During the Gorkhaland agitation, hundreds of people sacrificed their lives. But Ghisingh betrayed them when he signed the accord,” said Gurung.

In Kalimpong, the venue for burning the accord was Damber Chowk. What was noticeable was the presence of a strong contingent of women supporters.

Gurung also said the Lal Kothi — the administrative headquarters of the DGHC — would be gheraoed in February and not in March as was announced earlier. “We will not vandalise property. All we will do is lock it up for an indefinite period,” said Gurung. The Morcha leader said even if the Second States Reorganization Commission is not formed, the party’s goal would be to attain Gorkhaland.

Gurung is also planning a massive welcome for members of the Standing Committee on Home Affairs when they come to Darjeeling next month. “I have urged my supporters to give them a massive welcome at Lebong (they are expected to land at the helipad there on February 7). We must line up every street in the hills to tell them that we condemn the Sixth Schedule status,” said Gurung.