Bridge over troubled water

DARJEELING, Nov. 28: The CPRM has taken it on itself to sort out the political differences between the GJMM and the AIGL, for the Gorkhaland cause. Accordingly, an 11-member CPRM delegation led by its central committee members ~ Mr Sawan Rai and Mr JB Rai ~ met the leadership of the two parties today with an appeal to make up the differences. “We did so to normalise the relation between the two parties. Our key leaders met GJMM president Mr Bimal Gurung and AIGL president Mr Madan Tamang separately to discuss the current political situation,” said the CPRM general-secretary Mr RB Rai.
The AIGL and GJMM have been at loggerheads for some time with the AIGL president, Mr Madan Tamang, constantly questioning the GJMM's loyalty towards the Gorkhaland movement and the latter gagging the Oppositions’ right to speak. The verbal dual escalated after Mr Tamang alleged the GJMM leadership of having “compromised” with the state government on relaxation of its agitation programmes. Consequently, GJMM staged dharnas and demonstrations demanding proof due to which, the AIGL office in Laden La Road remains closed till date.
Concerned that the row between the pro-Gorkhaland parties would strengthen the anti-Gorkhaland adversaries in the plains, the CPRM has stepped in. This was also the first formal meeting between the CPRM and AIGL, two major parties of the anti-GNLF Peoples’ Democratic Front (PDF) who had fallen apart after the GJMM was formed last year. “The outcome of the meetings was positive and both parties appreciated our concern. This is just the beginning and we shall chalk the next move in our central committee meeting,” Mr Rai added