GJMM youth wing plans fresh statehood stir in Dec

GJMM youth wing plans fresh statehood stir in Dec

22 November 2011

statesman news service

DARJEELING 23 NOV: The tell-tale signs emanating from the GJMM camp that the party has been contemplating a renewed stir over Gorkhaland have become pronounced today as the preponderant party’s youth affiliate, Gorkha Jana Mukti Yuva Morcha  has decided to launch statehood stir in December. 

Addressing a Press conference here today, the GJMYM vice-president, Mr Priyabardan Rai, said that they would organise a public meeting at Mongpoo in Kalimpong sub-division on 18 December. “We would give the clarion call for Gorkhaland at the meeting which would be addressed by the party president, Mr Bimal Gurung,” he said.  

Referring to the recent development in Uttar Pradesh, the GJMM youth leader said that the UP chief minister’s stance on the four-way division of her state to facilitate better administration and development had buoyed them into going for the statehood-stir. “Our demand for carving out a separate Gorkhaland state is the oldest in the country. Yet, the demand remains far from fulfilled despite the century-old agitation. We would ask the Centre to explain why are we being discriminated against,” he said.

He said they would write to the President, the Prime Minister, the Union home minister and the state chief minister soon, asking them to consider their statehood demand.

When asked whether the renewed stir would militate against the spirit of the GTA agreement, Mr Rai said that the GTA draft had kept the demand on record. “We are not hostile to the agreement, but at the same time we would keep up the statehood momentum,” he said.