Gurung quits GTA to press demand

Jul 31, 2013 |

Age Correspondent

Bimal Gurung on Tuesday resigned as the head of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration immediately after the news came of the Congress Working Committee and UPA partners’ nod for a Telengana state.

The GJM is also giving a call for indefinite bandh in the hills from Saturday. “After the acceptance to Telengana demand, there is no point in our continuing in the GTA. Mr Gurung has sent his resignation letter to governor M.K. Narayanan,” GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said over the phone.
Two days ago, Mr Gurung had threatened that he would quit the autonomous body which was constituted to govern the hills after the signing of a tripartite agreement between the West Bengal government, Centre and the GJM. “Our demand for Gorkhaland is over a hundred year old. If the Centre can agree for a separate Telengana then it has no reason to not concede our demand for a Gorkhaland. We don’t want to live in West Bengal even for a day,” Mr Giri added.
Meanwhile, the separate Gorkhaland movement took an ugly turn on the second day of the three-day bandh as a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporter tried to immolate himself in Kalimpong town. Mangal Singh Rajput (45), poured petrol on himself at Dambarchowk.
Even before people could rush to stop him, he set himself ablaze. He was rushed to a hospital in Kalimpong and then shifted to Siliguri. He was stated to be in a critical condition.

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