Darjeeling/ Kalimpong, January 17:

Believing that only Gorkhaland can deliver identity and political security to the Indian Gorkhas, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has called on the 2nd phase of Gorkhaland agitation. As an initial step for the same, the Morcha will be holding rally and public meeting at Darjeeling on January 20, 2013.

“The Morcha has already chalked out the agitation programmes. To start off with, we conducted postering today”, informed the GJM Darjeeling Sub Division President, Dawa Lama to the reporters on Thursday.

30,000 posters have been printed in English and Nepali language and postering will also be done at Terai- Dooars region along with the GTA areas.

‘Government must create a separate state Gorkhaland along with Telangana’, reads one of the posters.

Lama further informed that the forthcoming rally will start from Darjeeling Railway Station at 10:30 a.m. and will culminate at Chowk Bazaar after encircling the town. A public meeting will be held at Chowk Bazaar afterwards.

“The main motive for the public meet is to let people know that the 2nd phase of agitation has started”, said Lama.

Despite of formation of Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA), the Morcha is clear on the Gorkhaland demand.

“GTA is temporary and is done only for the development of the hills, added the Sub Division President.

He also advocated that the GJM President, Bimal Gurung is sincere toward the demand of a separate state.

“Every Gorkhas have laid hope on the President”, claimed Lama.

Likewise, the Gorkhaland Rajya Nirman Morcha (GRNM) has also vouched for Gorkhaland formation along with Telangana. The GRNM on Thursday submitted a memorandum to the Centre Home Minister demanding the formation of Gorkhaland if Telangana is formed.

The GRNM President, Dawa Pakhrin said that they welcome the possibilities in formation of the Telangana state. However, the Gorkhaland demand out runs the Telangana demand and it needs to be granted by the Centre, he added. The GRNM have appealed the Centre for the same.

The memorandum traces the history of the Gorkhaland demand. Highlighting the formation of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) by the then Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) led by Subash Ghising, the memo states that it was unsuccessful due to inherent defects and no fulfillment of the aspirations of the people.

It also mentions that on March 21, 2005 all the 28 Councilors of the General Council resigned from their elected posts for the creation of a separate state and on December 06, 2005 a memo of settlement was signed between the Government of West Bengal, Government of India and Subash Ghising for granting the 6th Schedule status under Article 244 of the Indian Constitution. However, the passing of the 6th Schedule Amendment Bill 2007 became infructuous due to inordinate delay and it did not fulfill the aspiration of the Indian Gorkhas’.

Likewise, the memo also elucidates about the formation of the GTA by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM/GJMM) in July 2011.

“This agreement has again let down the entire people of Darjeeling district and Dooars region of Jalpaiguri district”, it states.

The GRNM has further charged the GTA of simply being a development agency similar to the DGHC, which will not fulfill the national identity aspiration of the Indian Gorkhas’.

Thus, the GRNM has requested the Centre to open a fresh dialogue for carving out a separate state before the decision of Telangana.