Thursday, May 07, 2026 22:30 [IST]
Last Update: Wednesday, May 06, 2026 16:49 [IST]
DARJEELING,: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president Bimal Gurung on Wednesday announced that the party would gherao Lalkothi, the headquarters of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), on May 14 in protest against alleged corruption in the Hills.
The
announcement comes in the wake of the victory of Morcha worker Noman Rai, who
contested as a BJP candidate from the Darjeeling Assembly constituency.
Political observers believe the GJM is seeking to reassert itself as a strong
force in the Hills, with the proposed programme seen as part of that effort. In
the recently concluded Vidhan Sabha polls, the BJP had allied with several
local parties, including the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF).
“It
was not only in other parts of Bengal but also here that rampant corruption and
atrocities were carried out by the TMC government using state machinery. The
people responded by voting against them,” Gurung said.
He
alleged that leaders in the Hills had worked for personal gain rather than
public welfare.
Gurung
claimed there had been corruption of over Rs 1,600 crore in the Jal Mission
scheme, alleging that despite tanks being constructed and pipelines laid, water
supply has not reached the people. He also raised allegations of irregularities
in other central schemes.
“In
protest against such corruption, we will hold a programme on May 14. We request
people to gather at Chowrasta, from where we will march to gherao Lalkothi,” he
said, adding that the protest would be democratic and peaceful.
Gurung
said the programme would also be observed as a “Vijay Utsav” to mark the
electoral victory.
The
GJM president further demanded the dissolution of the GTA and called for a new
arrangement with constitutional guarantees. He said the proposed body should
include 396 mouzas from the Terai and Dooars. He also reiterated the demand for
Scheduled Tribe status for 11 Gorkha communities and suggested that the new
body be brought under Article 244A of the Sixth Schedule.
