Sikkim will indirectly benefit from GTA: GJM
PAPPU MALLICK
GANGTOK, August 7: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) today expressed its anticipation on a favourable support from Sikkim government for providing necessary human resource for a smooth operation of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) as the neighbouring Darjeeling hills lack such expertise.
This was recorded by GJM vice president Kalyan Dewan and publicity joint secretary Binay Tamang on Sunday during a restructuring of Sikkim GJM unit here at Gangtok. The two Morcha functionaries pointed out that there is pressing need of capable human resources for running GTA, an area where Sikkim could help. The GTA formation will directly benefit the hill people and Sikkim will also benefit indirectly, they said asserting that the GJM will not interfere in Sikkim politics.
“The Sikkim government and people here have been extending support in every front to the Gorkhaland movement. We are eternally grateful to them. Both Sikkim and Darjeeling share blood relations and we want to maintain such consanguinity forever”, said Tamang while addressing the restructuring meeting.
Tamang said that GTA is the final stepping stone for Gorkhaland demand.
“We cannot climb a mountain at one go. For this we have to reach the base camp. The GTA is the final base camp for Gorkhaland. From here the route to Gorkhland will be easy”, said Tamang. He claimed that addition of ‘Gorkhaland’ word in the GTA was a major success of GJM adding that now the Indian Gorkhas will not have to face the ‘foreigner’ slur.
Tamang said that several infrastructures are planned within the first three years of GTA. We are committed to establish a corruption-free society in the hills, he said highlighting the special economic packages for GTA from Centre and West Bengal government.
Earlier in his address, Dewan said that GTA is a temporary arrangement and from it, a new State will take life. He said that the GJM has agreed for GTA keeping in mind the developmental needs of the Darjeeling hills adding that Gorkhaland movement will be given continuity. We have not stopped our Gorkhaland movement, he said.
The GJM vice president thanked Chief Minister Pawan Chamling for passing the Gorkhaland resolution in the Sikkim Assembly and the people of Sikkim for supporting the cause of their Darjeeling brothers.
Later, the new executive committee of Sikkim GJM unit was announced which saw Bhawani Pradhan retaining his president post. The executive members are Dipen Dewan, BB Thapa, Dawa Sherpa and Jiwan Thapa as vice presidents, Sudip Rai as secretary, Bimal Pradhan, Ajay Meghi, Suman Kawas, Umesh Chettri and Kumar Rai as joint secretaries and social worker Kuber Chandra Dahal as chief advisor. The other advisors are Saran Karki and Kishore Sherpa.
The Sikkim GJM treasurer is Ujjwal Rai and Satyam Tamang while Sauraj Rai is the publicity secretary.
