GNLF to hold ‘expose’ rally

The GNLF is planning to convene a public meeting in the Darjeeling hills this month to “expose” the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders.

The party is also thinking of observing its foundation day on April 5 in Kurseong after four years.

“After yesterday’s meeting in Delhi, it is apparent that the Morcha leaders are more interested in getting funds from the central government rather than achieving separate state,” said Rajen Mukhia, the convener of the GNLF’s Terai branch, today. “Quite aptly, they have been satisfied by the Centre’s offers. They came out of the meeting without expressing any anguish over the one-and-a-half months delay caused by the central and the state governments.”

Mukhia said they had apprised party president Subash Ghisingh of the Delhi meeting and he had instructed them to convene a public meeting in the hills before the end of March. “At that meeting, we will expose the Morcha leaders who are simply pocketing government funds and becoming millionaires over the years.”

At the foundation day rally, the GNLF will highlight how the Morcha leaders have deviated from the Gorkhaland issue. “They want to settle the matter with the governments and therefore harping on the formation of a regional authority,” Mukhia said.

“They have lost their relevance in the hills and like an expired medicine, their regime was also over on March 10, when their president (Bimal Gurung) failed to meet the commitment (of achieving the separate state).”

After March 15, when Gurung unveiled the “secret proposal”, the GNLF revived its political activities across the hills. A meeting was organised at Sukna the next day to criticise the document.

The GNLF accused the Morcha leaders of confusing the hill people for a separate state. “Unlike we, who gave no false hopes, they have been confusing the people over the past three years in the name of Gorkhaland,” Mukhia said.

Rahul Sinha, the state BJP president who reached here today, welcomed the outcome of the Delhi talks. “We have demanded talks to sort out the (Gorkhaland) issue. It is good that both the governments are finally convening meetings,” he said.

The Telegraph