Kalimpong,22nd Oct

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) is facing a blow from every nook and corner was evident on Tuesday when its one of the frontal organization Janmukti United Labour Welfare Organization (JULWO) withdrew its support to the party. The organization based in Kalimpong interestingly removed the word ‘Janmukti’ from its nomenclature and will now be functioning as‘Parvatiya Labour Welfare Organization’.

The president of the organization D.B. Pradhan said given that the GJM reverted back to run the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), the organization felt that there is no need to support the GJM because the party has crossed all lines and forgotten the issue of statehood. The members of the organization reached the Kalimpong party office of the GJM this morning and submitted their resignation to Kumar Chamling, the secretary of the GJM in Kalimpong. The Morcha has already been facing a scathe from the state government which is being ruled by theTrinamool Congress. The GJM had to call off the indefinite bandh without any major outcome last month, ultimately buoyed by the pressure created by the state government. The state government arrested more than 1300 GJM activists and also cut salaries of the government employees as part of its pressure tactics.

Now that the Trinamool has begun to make inroads in the hills that has gone on to quite successful, the TMC chiefwhip and Bengal Chief Minister herself is in the offing to hold the first TMC convention in Darjeeling on Oct 24 which could trigger more pressure on the Morcha. The Morcha in a last ditch attempt yesterday started functioning of the GTA as a face saver. With Chief Minister coming in the hills and the Trinamool cutting loose in bringing into fold many hill people so far, the withdrawal of support at such time from the Labour organization here is being looked upon as the downfall of the party. The organization however said it has no plans as such as of now to join any other outfit. “We will function as an independent organization. We have no plans to join any other outfit,” said Pradhan.

The ABGL on the other hand slamming the Morcha said that the party has surrendered infront of the state government. “Gorkhaland cannot be achieved through the politics of chair and money. Gorkhaland requires patience. By reverting back to GTA it is evident that the Morcha has surrendered in front of the government,” said Pratap Khati, the ABGLgeneral secretary. Clarifying that those joining the TMC are people who were never serious about Gorkhaland, Khati said, “Along with the leaders the people of the hills should also be sincere. It is unfortunate that people are switching sides and joining the party which is against formation of Gorkhaland,” He added.