Gorkha Janmukti Morcha
(GJM)’s study forum organized two days of seminar on Gorkhaland on 13 and 14
April 2015 at Darjeeling (Bhanu Bhawan). The theme of the seminar was “Creation of Smaller States and its
relevance to the demand of Gorkhaland”. Speakers from Telangana,
Assam, Delhi, Uttarkhand were flown. Looking at the panel of speakers it
appears that GJM wants to get ideas for developing a road map for its fight for
the creation of separate state of Gorkhaland.
Lets see the some of
the critical suggestions coming from the speakers. (For details see The Darjeeling
Chronicle )
1.
Set up a Rashtriya Samity that should include representatives
from different walks of life, region, religion and others, and said that the
Samity”- Narbhadur Bhandari
2.
Shri.
Kesvah Rao Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, Telengana Rastra Samiti,
suggested that the parliament should be made aware of Gorkhaland, start
with a voice… Get others to join you.
3.
BJP
National Executive Member Tapi Gao,Former Member of Parliament from Arunachal
Pradesh ideated ,“Don’t only depend in your MP
but expand your influence and contacts in Delhi where it matters. You have 45
elected sabhasads, besides the party’s office bearers. If one is able to catch
hold of two MPs in Delhi and is able to convince them about your demand, the
Gorkhaland bill will definitely be placed in Parliament. This I am saying as a
Gorkhaland demand sympathizer and not a BJP leader,”
4. Shri Kashi Singh Airy, President, Uttarakhand Kranti, shared
his own experience, “Don't
compromise for temporary set-ups. When we were struggling for Uttarakhand...
the government tried to make me a Minister so that I would back down... I
didn't... they offered us Hill Council... we rejected...in Delhi they arrested
he and put me in a hospital... I didn't give in... we never made any
compromises in our struggle. The leadership heading the present movement for
Gorkhaland must be dedicated and committed. When call was given to unite for
Uttarakhand statehood agitation... I set aside my flag of Uttarahand Kranti
Dal, and I handed over the leadership to Uttarakhand Sanyuta Samiti... after
that all the people of Uttarakhand joined in... from traders to students...
from politicians to social workers... everyone united... and we attained our dream
of Uttarahand statehood... Why can't you all unite for Gorkhaland? You
should"
5.
“Reach
out to the adivasis” Dooars Adivasi
Leader John Barla
6.
I will
ask PM Modi, when will he fulfill his words- the dream of Gorkhas are my dreams,
will talk to other MPs for raising this issue in the parliament -Dr.
Suramanian Swamy
7.
Article 3
of the Indian Constitution as the easiest route to Gorhaland than Articles 356,
256, 247- Shri. Abhijit Mazumdar, Secretary CPI(ML
8.
“If
Dooars is merged with other areas in Gorkhaland, then the role of Adivasi
leaders should be at the forefront…. more than the Gorkhas who are in
minority... The adivasi leadership should show us the way... The Gorkhas must
extend their help to Adivasis...” Shri. SN Pradhan, Dooars Study Forum
The suggestions Sounds
good and doable. From this discourse what GJM should do if they really mean
business:
1. Dissolve
Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) and start the movement with a single
point agenda of Formation of Gorkhaland
2. Bring
all the political outfits from the hills and Dooars under one umbrella with a
single purpose “to fight for the creation of Gorkhaland”. You can fight
politically once state is formed.
3. Form
a lobby group with the members from academia, business, media, policy makers to
lobby with the political parties in the centre
like Congress, SP, JD(U), BJP etc
These are the starting
point and the fundamentals without which future strategies will remain in limbo.
Is GJM leadership ready to take up the challenge? Will they be able to accommodate
other political, non-political, intelligentsia from Hills and Terai & Dooars
in the fight for the statehood for Gorkhaland? Will they be able to forego the
power gained from GTA? If yes then Gorkhaland is very certain and the words of
speakers that “Gorkhaland is possible” will be a reality otherwise Gorkhaland
is a distant reality as I had shared earlier too (Read What
Darjeeling needs now is development).
