ONE INTERIM TWO CLAIMS

Kalimnews : Gorkha Janmukti Morcha held a public meeting at Damber Chowk, Kalimpong with Norden Lama in the chair. Party leaders addressed the thinly attended meeting where Roshan Giri, General Secretary, Dr. H.B. Chhetri, Spokesperson, Samuel Gurung, Organising Secretary, Dooars, Smt. Asha Gurung, Nari Morcha leader etc. advocated in favour of the proposed interim set-up. They also vehemently criticised the 'oppositon' parties of the hill for misleading people on the wake of formation of a set-up. Dr. Chhetri said that the opposition leaders have not understood the contents of the interim set-up as proposed. Giri condemned the apprehension of Madan Tamang, ABGL leader and claimed that the proposed set-up should not be treated as VIth Schedule. The meeting was also attended among others by newly nominated President Smt. Sarita Rai and Secretary Subha Pradhan of Kalimpong sub-division committee.

Incidentally, Dawa Sherpa, newly nominated State Secretary of Bharatiya Janta Party, an alliance of the GJM in the hill, paid a visit to Kalimpong today and reportedly held an informal discussion with some of the non-GJM leaders like Pratap Khati, ABGL, D.K. Pradhan (GNLF/C) and others. He also addressed local media and criticised GJM for deviating the main agenda of Gorkhaland and demanding interim set-up which is not the aspiration of the hill people. About the BJP's top brass leaders' role in New Delhi, he said that they are working for the cause of Gorkhaland at national level day and night while the main protagonist of the issue i.e. the GJM is all set to remain as the slaves of Bengal by way of demanding interim set-up. According to Sherpa, the BJP was associated with the GJM till it raised the voice in favour of Gorkhaland. Since the GJM has turned back from the main agenda of the hill, now the BJP would start movement for the same, he added.

The political observers have started to view the visit of Sherpa to Kalimpong and decreasing attendance in the GJM's public meeting as new political developments.