Gorkha chief threatens to break Bengal

Written by Writer on Saturday, October 25th, 2008

Gorkha chief threatens to break Bengal

25 Oct 2008, Deep Gazmer, TNN

DARJEELING: Forty-eight hours after suspending the name-change agitation, GJM president Bimal Gurung was back to his aggressive ways on Friday.

He would wait only till March 10, 2010 — a self-appointed date — to achieve Gorkhaland “democratically”.

“We have based our agitation on Gandhian policy and principles and will stick to it till the last. But if the deadline expires, then I have the power to break Bengal into pieces,” warned Gurung. It was up to the Bengal government to ensure that Gorkhaland is achieved by March 2010, he said.

That wasn’t the only date he talked about on Friday. AIGL chief Madan Tamang - who had alleged on Thursday that GJM’s decision to suspend its name-change agitation had been planned “well in advance” at a meeting with home secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti at Tinchulay in Takdah on October 11 — has been asked to prove this claim or “quit politics by November 7”.

“I am open to constructive criticism but spreading false rumors cannot be tolerated,” said Gurung, warning of “repercussions” from those who support Gorkhaland wholeheartedly. “People in Takdah are already agitated against the allegation made by the AIGL president and anything can happen. In such an event, the GJM will not be responsible,” he warned.

November 7 is also the day when college students will have to wear the Nepali traditional dress for three days of the week, he said.