We want Gorkhaland at any cost: Morcha to CM

In the memorandum, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha states that the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council that came into being 1989, through a tripartite agreement, has become redundant, as it has failed to fulfil the aspirations of people. The people of the hills would not settle for anything less than a separate Gorkhaland state, the memorandum stated.

The GJM, which broke away form the Gorkha National Liberation Front, is now spearheading the present agitation in Darjeeling hills.

Talking to The Indian Express, the general secretary of the GJM, Roshan Giri, said that the proposed Gorkhaland would include areas of Siliguri, the dooars and the terai region.

“We welcome the chief minister’s stand of resolving disputes through talks and discussions,” said Giri and went on to add that his party is ready for the talks if the state government invite them.

Meanwhile, to ensure peace the GJM leaders issued a strict code of conduct for those attending the Siliguri rally on Wednesday. Those attending the rally at Indira Gandhi Maidan in the outskirts Siliguri have been asked not to use any inflammatory or abusive language.

Anyone found in an intoxicated state would also be handed over to the police, the GJM said. The party expect that around 100,000 people would turn up for the rally.

The state has deployed four additional platoons of central security forces in the city. All schools in Siliguri town will be closed tomorrow.

The mood in the hills is upbeat with truckloads of hill people are descending to Siliguri since Tuesday early morning. The meeting will begin at 11 am and continue till late afternoon.

Bimal Gurung the GJM president, Roshan Giri, the general secretary and other GJM leaders will address the gathering. The Kamtapur People’s Party and the Greater CoochBehar Democratic Party leaders will also join the rally.

The two outfits are demanding a separate state for Rajbanshis, Kochs and other ethnic minorities and have become strategic partners of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha.

Minister for Urban Development Ashok Bhattacharya, who had been opposing the GJM’s demand for holding a rally in Siliguri, however, said that there was no fear of any violence.

“Every arrangement has been made on behalf of the administration to ensure peace,” he said in Kolkata today.

Amid this, a lesser-known group Amra Bangalee (We Bengalis) has given a call for bandh on Wednesday to protest the GJM’s demands of a separate Gorkhaland.