Amar Lama, the leader of the Delhi delegationDarjeeling, Aug. 10: A 12-member Gorkha Janmukti Morcha delegation today held a two-and-a-half-hour brainstorming session in New Delhi to fine-tune the strategy to be adopted tomorrow at the third round of tripartite meeting.
This time, the Morcha has decided to counter the government’s “why Gorkhaland” with a “why not”. Instead of speaking on statehood, the hill party will filed the question why not Gorkhaland.
“We had held a meeting with Jaswant Singh recently and we are fully prepared for the talks starting at 10.30am tomorrow,” said Amar Lama, a central committee member and leader of the delegation.
In Darjeeling, Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said the party would not speak on or discuss any issue other than Gorkhaland. “The team has been briefed by Bimal Gurung to speak only on the demand of Gorkhaland. The state government has also agreed to discuss the issue,” said Giri.
The strategy had been finalised by the Morcha’s Study Forum after a three-day deliberation in Deolo, Kalimpong.
In the hills, the All-Transport Joint Action Committee has asked taxi drivers to park their vehicles at 10.30am for two hours to help form a human chain from Lebong to Siliguri tomorrow.
“Since the roads are narrow at various points along NH55 and at various railway intersections, we appeal to the taxi drivers to park their vehicles at the respective motor stands,” said Sanjeev Tamang, the secretary of the committee. The committee is an umbrella organisation of taxi syndicates affiliated to the Morcha.
The party has asked the hill people to form the human chain along the highway for an hour from 11.19am to express solidarity with the demand on Gorkhaland.
Although there was no explanation as to why 11.19am was chosen, many of the Morcha programmes usually stick to that timing.
Another human chain is also likely to be formed from Kalimpong to Siliguri along NH31A during the same time. The highway is the arterial link between Sikkim and the rest of the country.
The Janmukti Sishu Siksha Karmasuchi Sahayak/Sahayika Sangathan, a Morcha frontal body of non-formal teachers, appealed to all Sishu Siksha Kendra and Madhyamik Siksha Kendra staff to take part in the human chain.
The association has asked its members from Darjeeling to assemble at the Ghum railway station at 9am tomorrow. “Our members from Mirik and Kurseong are requested to gather at the Kurseong motor stand while those from Kalimpong should assemble at Damber Chowk around the same time,” said Sushila Alay, a member of the association.
The Janmukti Asthai Karmachari Sangathan has already asked its members residing near the highways to take a day off and participate in the rally.
Apart from the human chain, the town committee of the Morcha has decided to organise all-faith meetings from tomorrow at Chowrastha.
“The prayer meeting from 9am to 6pm every day will continue till August 17 with a break on August 15. The meeting is being organised for Gorkhaland and also for a successful tripartite meeting,” said Dinesh Gurung, the Morcha convener. The party is expected to announce a new agitation programme.
On Sunday, the Bharatiya Gorkha Bhutpurba Sainik Morcha’s Darjeeling town committee also organised a prayer at the Mahakal temple here for a “successful” meeting.
This time, the Morcha has decided to counter the government’s “why Gorkhaland” with a “why not”. Instead of speaking on statehood, the hill party will filed the question why not Gorkhaland.
“We had held a meeting with Jaswant Singh recently and we are fully prepared for the talks starting at 10.30am tomorrow,” said Amar Lama, a central committee member and leader of the delegation.
In Darjeeling, Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said the party would not speak on or discuss any issue other than Gorkhaland. “The team has been briefed by Bimal Gurung to speak only on the demand of Gorkhaland. The state government has also agreed to discuss the issue,” said Giri.
The strategy had been finalised by the Morcha’s Study Forum after a three-day deliberation in Deolo, Kalimpong.
In the hills, the All-Transport Joint Action Committee has asked taxi drivers to park their vehicles at 10.30am for two hours to help form a human chain from Lebong to Siliguri tomorrow.
“Since the roads are narrow at various points along NH55 and at various railway intersections, we appeal to the taxi drivers to park their vehicles at the respective motor stands,” said Sanjeev Tamang, the secretary of the committee. The committee is an umbrella organisation of taxi syndicates affiliated to the Morcha.
The party has asked the hill people to form the human chain along the highway for an hour from 11.19am to express solidarity with the demand on Gorkhaland.
Although there was no explanation as to why 11.19am was chosen, many of the Morcha programmes usually stick to that timing.
Another human chain is also likely to be formed from Kalimpong to Siliguri along NH31A during the same time. The highway is the arterial link between Sikkim and the rest of the country.
The Janmukti Sishu Siksha Karmasuchi Sahayak/Sahayika Sangathan, a Morcha frontal body of non-formal teachers, appealed to all Sishu Siksha Kendra and Madhyamik Siksha Kendra staff to take part in the human chain.
The association has asked its members from Darjeeling to assemble at the Ghum railway station at 9am tomorrow. “Our members from Mirik and Kurseong are requested to gather at the Kurseong motor stand while those from Kalimpong should assemble at Damber Chowk around the same time,” said Sushila Alay, a member of the association.
The Janmukti Asthai Karmachari Sangathan has already asked its members residing near the highways to take a day off and participate in the rally.
Apart from the human chain, the town committee of the Morcha has decided to organise all-faith meetings from tomorrow at Chowrastha.
“The prayer meeting from 9am to 6pm every day will continue till August 17 with a break on August 15. The meeting is being organised for Gorkhaland and also for a successful tripartite meeting,” said Dinesh Gurung, the Morcha convener. The party is expected to announce a new agitation programme.
On Sunday, the Bharatiya Gorkha Bhutpurba Sainik Morcha’s Darjeeling town committee also organised a prayer at the Mahakal temple here for a “successful” meeting.
