Bimal Gurung to meet Mamata Banerjee on jailed leaders

DARJEELING: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president Bimal Gurung on Thursday left for Kolkata to meet chief minister Mamata Banerjee on her invitation to discuss Darjeeling's problems. Gurung refused to speak to the media, but party leaders in Darjeeling said he will press for the release of arrested Morcha leaders and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) sabhasads. "The state government promised to release our arrested leaders and sabhasads. But after so many months they are still languishing in jail. This is giving rise to resentment among common people too," said a central committee leader, who didn't want to be quoted. More than 1500 people were arrested during the August-September agitation for statehood. Senior leaders and GTA members too have been arrested. However, some of the arrested persons were later granted bail. 

Out of the 12 sabhasads arrested, including GJM assistant secretary Binay Tamang, four have so far been released. While, fresh cases are being tagged by the police on the leaders granted bail by the court, this has made the GJM unhappy. Accompanying Gurung are Trilok Dewan, the Darjeeling MLA and R B Bhujel, a central committee leader. GJM general secretary Roshan Giri, who is now in Delhi, will join them on Friday. The Darjeeling MLA, over phone from Kolkata this evening, said Gurung and Banerjee will have a one-to-one meeting. The demand on placing all the Gorkha communities of the Darjeeling Hills except the Scheduled Caste under the tribal status will also be discussed. 

A few days back, the GJM chief had said he would persuade the Bengal CM to pressure the Union government to take up this demand immediately. Other issues expected to be taken up are providing development funds to the GTA, transfer of departments, placing the areas of Darjeeling under the North East Council (NEC) and enrolling Gorkha youths in the police and paramilitary forces among the many. According to sources, the outcome of the meeting with the CM on Friday will pave the way for Gurung to resume office as the GTA chief executive, a post he relinquished at the start of the latest agitation. The GTA is presently being run by an acting chief executive.