GNLF plan for hills on April 5

TT;;''RAJEEV RAVIDAS Kalimpong, April 1: The GNLF has decided to celebrate its 32nd foundation day on April 5 as “Gorkhaland Namkaran Ghoshna Diwas” by holding public meetings and hoisting party flags atop houses of supporters across the hills. “Meetings will be held at different places in Mirik, Kurseong and Darjeeling. Even though no meetings have been scheduled in Kalimpong for that day, flag-hoisting programmes will take place in the subdivision,” said C.K. Kumai, the secretary of the GNLF.

 Some party supporters, particularly in the foothill areas of Panighata and Garidhura, have already planted GNLF flags atop their houses. “The day (April 5) is not just the foundation day of the GNLF but it is a day when every Gorkha’s heartbeat called Gorkhaland was given the name,” Kumai said. Asked if party president Subash Ghisingh would visit the hills during the foundation day celebrations, Kumai refused comment.

 Ghisingh has not ventured into the hills after he was forced to leave Darjeeling for the second time in three years in May 2011 following pressure from the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. Kumai, the former chairman of Kalimpong municipality, said his party was awaiting the verdict of the high court with regards to GNLF’s application demanding the scrapping of the GTA Act before formulating its political position in the hills.

 “There has already been an agreement on providing the Sixth Schedule status to the hills. It secures the future of the Gorkhas through constitutional guarantee. The GTA does not enjoy constitutional guarantee. There is a case pending in the high court on the matter. Once the verdict is out, we will make our position public,” Kumai said.