Tension likely on April 5, rival parties chalk out their own plans

NBS Times Report

Kurseong March 28: Tension is likely to grip Kurseong on April 5 as the two rival political parties of the hills vis-à-vis, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) has line duo their political programme on the same day and venue.

While the GNLF has decided to observe their 32^nd foundation day at various places of the hills, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) is also likely to show their strength specifically in Kurseong. The GNLF in its indoor meetings with the supporters sources said has been reminding that the word ‘Gorkhaland’ was first coined by their chief Subash Ghisingh during the eighties when the hills witnessed a bloody agitation that reportedly killed 12000 people across the hills. The GNLF is of the opinion that some of the political parties in the hills are now using the term ‘Gorkhaland’ for their vested interest and fool the hill people. Ghisingh had spoken of the word ‘Gorkhaland’ on April 5, 1980 before he was hounded out from the hills by the GJM lead by his own conman Bimal Gurung.

The party is expected to hoist their flag either in Garidhura or Simulbari in the foothills of Kurseong Subdivision. However, on the other side of the coin the GJM that fought a 44 months Gorkhaland agitation from 2007 before settling down for Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) the areas for which consists of the three hill subdivision minus the Terai and Dooars, has already seeked permission to hold their rally on the same as a show of strength. The party however has not announced its programme in open.

The police however in a bid to tackle the situation are right on their toes which may call in forces from the outside the hills. “Whether paramilitary forces would be called in or not has not been decided so far,” said Nima Narbu Bhutia, the Kurseong SDPO.