Gorkhaland agitation: Association of Gorkhas calls for national-level movement to achieve separate state

Kohima: An association of Gorkhas on Friday said a national-level movement is needed to achieve the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland, carved out of West Bengal. The issue of separate state for Gorkhas is not only for the Gorkhas of Darjeeling but it is for the Gorkhas spread across the country, said National spokesperson of Gorkhaland Sanyukta Sangharsh Samity (GSSS), Anjali Sharma Bhujel. [caption id=“attachment_4087963” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] “We have to prove that the Gorkhas in every corner of India supports the Gorkhaland movement,” she said, adding, the issue of separate Gorkhaland state has to be unitedly taken up at the national level. “The government of India will not be able to ignore the national level movement, and therefore we need to knit a common thread and sent a strong message to the Centre and government of West Bengal that Gorkhas will continue to protect their pride and rights,” Bhujel said. She was addressing a coordination meeting of the GSSS in which members of the Nagaland Gorkha Association took part. “We will not remain silent unless and until we achieve the aspiration of the Gorkhas,” she said. Bhujel said GSSS is planning a ‘Sansad March’ to let the voice of the Gorkhas be heard by the MPs during the winter session of the Parliament. The GSSS had brought out a rally in New Delhi in July to reinforce their demand for a separate state and imposition of President’s rule in West Bengal, when the Gorkhaland agitation was at its peak in the Darjeeling hills.