The hills of Darjeeling are limping back to normalcy amidst instances of threats and violence by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), which is spearheading a movement for a separate State of Gorkhaland. The hills have been locked since the past three months, with unrest spreading over to the neighbouring areas too.
Talks with the state government has so far not yielded any results.12 GJM supporters were arrested on Friday, after an attack on a school bus and several shops in Kalimpong.
Former Indian Football captain and 2014 Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from Darjeeling has finally broken his silence on the Gorkhaland dispute. In an interview with Sikkim Express, he categorically said he differs from the view of the West Bengal government.
In my personal view, the separate state of Gorkhaland should happen. It is a genuine struggle that people of Darjeeling hills have faced for more than three decades for a separate state.Bhaichung Bhutia, Former Indian Football Team Captain
He also added that people from Bengal should not feel that their state is being divided as Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills have never been a part of West Bengal. The ‘long struggle’ for Gorkhaland dates back to our history, which says the hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong were not a part of the present state of West Bengal.
Bhaichung also condemned the acts of violence that had gripped the hills for the past few months. He said:
My advice is that people supporting the Gorkhaland movement should not get aggressive and resort to communal abusive statements, especially in the social media.
Bhutia says he has immense respect for TMC leader Mamata Banerjee and his views on a separate state of Gorkhaland are completely personal. He said, "Resigning from TMC serves no purpose. My resigning does not mean that Gorkhaland will happen."
He believes a separate state of Gorkhaland will help restore peace in the hills, thereby benefiting the adjoining areas too.
The TMC member thinks working with the Bengali intellectual community will benefit the movement. He also adds that reaching out to them would help TMC leaders and bureaucrats to speak up in support of the movement.
The former Indian Football team captain who, who belongs to Sikkim, lauded the Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling for coming out in support of the movement.
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