Anit Thapa, president of Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) and chief executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), lashed out at hill parties and accused them of raising the statehood issue only when they lose political battles.

T h e d e m a n d o f Gorkhaland is again rearing its head in hill politics. The Bimal Gurung-led Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) will hold a convention in Delhi on December 10 and 11 to form a national committee to pursue the demand and the newly formed Citizens’ Forum a public meeting on statehood in Darjeeling on December 18.

The Delhi convention is called “One journey, one mission, a separate state of Gorkhaland”.

Thapa, whose party recently won the GTA election without raising the bogey of Gorkhaland, reacted to the seminar, saying: “In the hills, it has become a trend for political leaders who lose politically (read elections) or become politically redundant to raise the Gorkhaland demand thinking the slogan will be enough to regain popular support.”

“The days when politicians used to think that just raising the Gorkhaland demand ensured their survival are over,” said Thapa, adding that the statehood demand had to be raised appropriately and at the right forum.

On September 14, Thapaled GTA Sabha passed a resolution seeking a dialogue on Gorkhaland demand during its first general meeting.

The demand was made on the premise that the Centre, state and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha signed the memorandum of agreement for GTA in 2011 where it was stated that GTA was being agreed upon without dropping the demand of Gorkhaland.

“Gorkhaland cannot be created by fomenting unrest in Darjeeling hills,” said Thapa.

The BGPM chief’s statement seems to be aimed not just at Bimal Gurung but also the Citizen’s Forum.