1 month ago
Gurung Meets CM Suvendu, Signals Morcha Reset in Darjeeling
Bimal Gurung, the leader of a local political group called Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, met with the chief minister of West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, in the city of Calcutta.
The meeting was a sign that Gurung’s group still matters in the politics of the Darjeeling hills.
Gurung and his team asked the state government to help with things like better wages for tea garden workers, a bonus, and rules about old vehicles that hurt tourism.
They also wanted the government to drop criminal cases against people who fought for a separate state called Gorkhaland.
The group plans to set up a special administrative area like the Bodoland region in Assam and wants the hill communities to get tribal status.
The meeting was part of a three‑day series of talks with different state ministers.
The goal is to make the hills more stable and give the people there more power.
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung met West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari in Calcutta.
The meeting signaled the Morcha’s continued relevance amid shifting Darjeeling hill politics after BJP’s recent assembly win.
Gurung and Morcha leaders presented demands on constitutional arrangement, minimum wages, bonus for tea garden workers, and vehicle policy.
The delegation also sought withdrawal of criminal cases against Gorkhaland agitators and restoration of panchayat powers.
The Morcha plans to model an administrative set‑up similar to Bodoland Territorial Region and grant tribal status to hill communities.
- Who
- Bimal Gurung, president of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, along with other Morcha leaders
- What
- A meeting and series of talks where Morcha leaders presented demands to the state government
- Where
- Calcutta (Kolkata) and other meetings in West Bengal, focusing on the Darjeeling hills
- When
- Wednesday, during a three‑day engagement series
- Why
- To assert Morcha’s political relevance and push for constitutional arrangements, wages, and other regional issues after BJP’s victory
Key facts
- Meeting participants
- Bimal Gurung, Suvendu Adhikari, Arjun Singh, Roshan Giri
- Date
- Wednesday (exact date not specified)
- Location
- Calcutta (Kolkata), West Bengal
- Key demands
- Constitutional arrangement, minimum wages, 20% bonus, vehicle policy, withdrawal of criminal cases
- Political context
- BJP‑led state government, post‑assembly election shift
Quotes
Roshan Giri
GJM general secretary
“"We urged the government to evolve a solution keeping in mind the region's unique geographical and economic conditions," said Giri.”
telegraphindia.com
An observer
Political observer
“"Against this backdrop, Gurung securing an audience with Suvendu will be viewed by his supporters as an indication that he continues to enjoy political relevance," said an observer.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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