Speaking to The Indian Express, Tamang said: “Gorkhaland or no Gorkhaland, the deadlock must be solved only through dialogue. There should not be any violence or bloodshed, as these do not lead us anywhere. I am a singer and not a politician. I just want that the problem is solved amicably.” Tamang, who won the singing competition last year, works for the Kolkata police.

He added that he was pained to see the Bengali-Nepali divide not only in the Hills but also in Siliguri. “This is the worst thing that could have happened,” said Tamang, who is currently in Mumbai on leave.The leaders of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), however, accused the CPM of fomenting communal tension in Siliguri and in the Hills.