HM Correspondent
Kalimpong, May 14:

After refusing to inaugurate a solid waste management plant at Bhalukhop yesterday, the man with power in the hills vis-à-vis the GTA chief Bimal Gurung yet again denied receiving felicitation by Saptashree Gyanpith, a reputed school in the town.

Gurung who has been camping in the subdivision since the past 3-4 days though did not disheartened the students by attending the 20th award ceremony of the 10 ICSE schools as chief guest.
“Please keep the felicitation for 2017. I will accept such honours only after I
accomplish my mission,” said the Gorkha leader who rebelled against Subash Ghisingh and GNLF in 2007 to fight for a separate Gorkha homeland. It is however quite understood that his mission categorically is Gorkhaland but the deadline 2017 should throws a spotlight in the hill political circles raising eyebrows.

Gurung ironically though did not clarify why he asked to keep such felicitations for after 2017.
Sources in the GJM camp opined that the 2017 mark could be another deadline for creation of Gorkhaland unlike the 2010 deadline when he had clearly stated that separate state would be achieved by then. However, incidentally, Gurung’s denial for doing things on the spot happened for the second consecutive day today. The leader had denied to inaugurate the Rs 1 crore solid waste management plant constructed by the Kalimpong municipality yesterday suddenly on the spot. Gurung was unhappy with the construction of the road leading to the plant to which he said was badly constructed.

Meanwhile, addressing the students at the school Gurung said he was impressed with the performances from the students. “The performances were of international standard like we see in television these days. Kalimpong is far better than Darjeeling in every aspect be it the school brass band to extra circular activities. Darjeeling certainly needs to learn from this place where competition is stiff,”said Gurung, who announced to provide water harvesting plant for the school as a gift in the name of his mother.

The ceremony themed as ‘the colours of India’ perfectly justified the performances that enthralled the audience as well.  The heads of the school said such contest helps in shaping students' career and develop confidence in them. “We just do not organize functions to wind up the annual event.
The programs organized by the schools encourage the students to face their fear,” said Tapan Pradhan, the director of the school