A 50-foot-high statue of Ari Bahadur Gurung, who represented the hill in the Constituent Assembly and was a signatory to the Constitution, is set to be installed in Sitong, Darjeeling.

A museum depicting the sacrifice of the Gorkhas and their contribution to India’s freedom fight will also come up there.

“We have acquired around 2 acres of land at Sitong in Kurseong subdivision where the state of Ari Bahadur Gurung will be set up. Apart from the statue, we will also establish a museum to depict the sacrifice of the brave Gorkha soldiers and highlight their contribution to India’s freedom fight,” Amit Gurung, the president of the Ari Bahadur Gurung Foundation told newsmen in Siliguri on Saturday.

The project which is expected to be completed
within two years will come up at Lower Mamring village in Sitong of Kurseong subdivision.

Ari Bahadur, an eminent lawyer represented the area in the Constituent Assembly and was also a signatory to the Constitution when the Assembly adopted it on November 26, 1949.

The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) has also erected a statue of Ari Bahadur at Lal Khoti, the headquarters of the hill body.

The hill body also posthumously felicitated Ari Bahadur on November 26, 2015. Ari Bahadur breathed his last on July 4, 1980.

The organisers said that the total project cost is expected to touch Rs 4 crore.