GLP may play a vital role: Observers

Gurung with Gorkhaland Personal: File Pic.

Jitendra Sharma

Kurseong Feb 10: The ‘Gorkhaland Personal’ (GLP) may play a pivotal role if the GJM’s ‘Militant stir’ threat to revitalize the third phase of Gorkhaland agitation is a serious political gimmick observers in the region have opined.

Observers today said that Bimal Gurung the Morcha chief has a lot faith on his lathi wielding youths that was formed during the 44 months Gorkhaland agitation started immediately in 2007 after Gurung rebelled with the then ‘King of the hills’ and GNLF conman Subash Ghisingh. “During the time when Madan Tamang, the ABGL president was assassinated in broad daylight and there was a rumour that Gurung would not be allowed to enter Darjeeling, Gurung had then opted a calvacade of GLP personal to bring him to Darjeeling. He has a faith on GLP immensely and if any militant stir is in store ahead for fresh agitation in the hills then the GLP will be playing a vital role,” said an observer.

Sources said that the GLP youths have received a tough army training since the past couple of years. The GLP is headed by retired ex-Army Col. Ramesh Allay who is also the deputy to Bimal Gurung in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). The GLP in it’s hey days used to wear dress that imitated the Army dress but soon it was opposed by the state government and other political party in the hills. The formation of the GLP over the years has definitely been a cause of a concern for the state government. At times, during the agitation period GLP’s performed duties parallely to the state police. The Morcha time and again then said that the GLP was formed to control the mob and its supporters during public rallies across the region. The GLP’s are also paid salaries by the GJM.

That the GLP would play a vital role in the agitation further coincides with a woman leader recently saying in a public meeting on January 27 in Kurseong that Bimal Gurung always emphasizes he has come for Gorkhaland and the GLP is enough for him to fight for the state. “Bimal Gurung says me that they are sufficient for me to fight for Gorkhaland,” Asha Gurung had said in the public rally. Asha Gurung is now a GTA executive member who is also the president of the womens wing of the GJM.