Ghising had repeatedly asked security men posted at his Zakir Hussain Road residence to take away the flag which GJM supporters had hoisted replacing his Gorkha National Liberation Front’s.

However, the security men refrained from doing so in order not to anger the GJM. Ghising, leader of the GNLF, has reportedly been sidelined by the GJM which is fighting for the same cause.

Sunday morning, the 72-year-old GNLF chief came out of his house and tore down the flag, eyewitnesses said.

Three weeks ago a group of ex-servicemen reportedly replaced the only GNLF flag fluttering at his residence with a GJM flag, signalling the end of Ghising’s undisputed leadership of the popular Gorkhaland movement.

GJM president Bimal Gurung, when contacted, laughed away Ghising’s “antic” act, saying, “Bechara bahut frustrated hai (the fellow is very frustrated). However, we are not taking it seriously at all. We have no time to spare to think or discuss the activities of a joker.” Some reacted to Ghising’s act by saying that it was only he ‘who has the courage to remove the GJM flag’.