Regional parties meet in Darjeeling, seek united push for ‘Gorkhaland Bill’

REZA PRADHAN

DARJEELING,:  An all-party meeting convened by Naya Party Nirman Samity (NPNS) on Saturday sought to build consensus among regional political parties to press for the introduction of a “Gorkhaland Bill” in Parliament during the upcoming Monsoon Session.

The meeting, held at the Darjeeling Gymkhana Club, was attended by representatives of Indian Gorkha Janshakti Front (IGJF), Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), Sumeti Mukti Morcha (SMM) and Gorkhaland Nirman Morcha (GNM).

Jan Andolan Party (JAP), Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist (CPRM) and Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (ABGL), who were also invited, did not attend the meeting.

NPNS coordinator Birendra Rasaily said the meeting was called to prepare a joint representation seeking the introduction of a Gorkhaland Bill in Parliament during the Monsoon Session beginning July 21.

He said the organisation had circulated a draft recommendation letter among political parties, seeking their signatures before forwarding it to Union Home minister Amit Shah through Darjeeling MP Raju Bista.

Rasaily expressed disappointment that several parties neither sent their presidents or secretaries to the meeting nor submitted the signed recommendation letter, citing various reasons.

According to him, only the IGJF, GNM and SMM were represented by either their president or secretary.

“We want the letter to reach the Home Minister before the Monsoon Session begins. The Darjeeling MP alone cannot bring the Bill in Parliament. All political parties should support him on this issue,” Rasaily said, adding that the NPNS had secured an appointment with Bista on July 13 to submit the signed letters.

IGJF convenor Ajoy Edwards, who attended the meeting, said there was a need for unity among Gorkha political parties on the statehood demand.

“There is not one Gorkha who is against Gorkhaland. If we do not unite, others will benefit. We support this initiative and have signed the recommendation letter,” he said.

GNLF spokesperson Y. Lama said his party attended the meeting following a decision of its central committee, although its president and secretary could not be present.

“No Gorkha is against the demand for Gorkhaland. We welcome the initiative to bring political parties together on the issue,” Lama said.

He said the GNLF had backed the candidature of Raju Bista in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as part of the NDA alliance, leading to the election of a Gorkha MP from the constituency.

Lama claimed that Bista's efforts had led to the initiation of a tripartite dialogue on the Gorkha issue and the appointment of an interlocutor.

With the BJP in power at the Centre and also in the State, this was an appropriate time for all stakeholders to work together and support Bista in taking forward the demand for Gorkhaland, he added.