Gurung pledges hands-on leadership

RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, Kumani (Kalimpong), July 19: Bimal Gurung said in his first election rally that was held here today that he wanted to be a “hands-on” administrator once the GTA Sabha is formed.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president arrived here from Siliguri, 70km away, around 4.30pm. Over a thousand party supporters had gathered since 11am despite spells of rain.

The venue of the meeting was seven kilometres from Sibchu where three Morcha supporters were killed in police firing early last year.

In his one-hour speech, Gurung said he would ensure that the GTA would function efficiently and give results.

Not once did he appeal to the people to cast their votes in the favour of the Morcha candidates.

Twenty-eight of the party’s candidates, including Gurung, have already won the elections to the 45-member GTA Sabha uncontested.

“I want to be a hands-on administrator. So far, we had no say in the running of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. Once the GTA is in place, I will be going through and issuing work orders and signing the cheques. Today it is celebration time and I appeal to you all to be happy and bury the zindabads and the murdabads at this time,” he said.

The Morcha president had camped at the forest bungalow in Kumani, about a kilometre from the open ground where the meeting took place today.

On February 8, a few thousand Morcha supporters had tried to march from Kumani to Khunia More led by Gurung. They were stopped by the police at Sibchu, seven kilometres away. But after they tried to force their way in and attacked the police. The police opened fire killing three Morcha supporters, including two women.

Gurung said places like Sibchu should be included in the GTA. “We have given our inputs to the fact-verification committee that is looking into the Justice Shyamal Sen Committee recommendations. Places like Sibchu should be included in the GTA.” there our children have been martyred for our cause, Gurung said.