Mukesh Sharma

Kalimpong, January 12:

The Gorkhaland Task Force (GTF) meeting today passed a resolution suggested by the former chief minister of Sikkim Nar Bahadur Bhandari and the vice-chancellor of Sikkim University MP Lama, of accumulating the support of the MPs and the leaders of different states in the country. The meeting also passed a resolution to come out with the e-mail, logo and website of the party and to form a ‘support group’ at Kolkata, Guwahati and Delhi.

The GTF chairman Sukhman Moktan informed that the party will be meeting the MPs and the CMs of Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Goa soon to seek support for Gorkhaland. The day also saw the selection of SK Chettri as the new treasurer of the party.

The party has decided that only Gorkhaland will be accepted as it can only provide the identity and security to the Gorkhas residing in different parts of the country. The meeting also discussed on the code of conduct of the party and the short term road map for their agitation, ahead.

Moktan informed that the party shall build a cordial relationship with Terai-Dooars with several different programmes. Meetings are also scheduled with different communities residing in Siliguri to discuss on Gorkhaland. He also stressed that the Gorkhaland agitation must be well supported continuously, no matter if Telengana gets statehood or not. The Gorkhaland issue is completely different to that of the Telengana and it cannot be compared, he said.

The GTF in the second week of February shall meet the central leaders in the national capital and keep forward the demand of the Gorkhaland, it is informed.  A seminar in Sikkim taking the ruling and the oppositions on the same will be held.

Most importantly the political parties in the Hills have to stand above the political thinking and must fight united for the attainment of Gorkhaland, said Moktan. The recent dissension within the party has also been solved, he informed.

The meeting also had the presence of the GRNM president Dawa Pakhrin, ABGL general secretary Pratap Khati, CPRM leader Taramani Rai, LM Lama, Arun Ghatani, Kishor Pradhan and PR Pradhan.