Protestors march to Darjeeling for inclusion of Bhaktinagar in ‘Gorkhaland’

After a two day march 600 protestors from Bhaktinagar block in Jalpaiguri who undertook the 96 kilometers journey from Siliguri to Darjeeling for a seperate statehood reached here around 7 p.m today.
“We started from Bhaktinagar at 6 a.m. yesterday and covered the 52km distance till Kurseong where we halted for the night. Today we started at around 5a.m from Kurseong, stopped for lunch in Sonada and reached Darjeeling at 7 p.m. Food and lodging arrangements has been made at Chowrasta”, informed general secretary of Siliguri sub-divisional unit, Mr. Madhusudan Thapa, who is leading the team. The main motive of marchers from Jalpaiguri is to seek an assurance from GJMM chief Mr Bimal Gurung to incorporate the portion of Jalpaiguri within the proposed state of Gorkhaland just like Siliguri,Terai and Dooars.
“Earlier too the Bhaktinagar block of Jalpaiguri administered by Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) included within the Gorkhaland map is always forgotten. When demanding Gorkhaland it is always Darjeeling, Dooars, Siliguri and Darjeeling. We want Bhaktinagar to be verbally pronounced in the list of territories embodying separate state”, said Siliguri sub-divisional secretary Mr Hemant Gautam. Despite supporting materially and morally, the Gorkhaland agitation in the 80's, the earlier agitation vanguarded by GNLF had concluded with the DGHC accord excluding Dooars, Terai and Siliguri.
Significantly, the GJMM supporters from Jalpaiguri chose the time before the tripartite meeting with Centre to place their demand before Mr Gurung who received them at Chowrasta today. “We came here before the tripartite meeting so that when the GJMM demands Gorkhaland with the Centre it should include all areas falling within Gorkhaland map”, stated Mr Thapa.

Courtesy: The Statesman

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