First assurance on Gorkhaland, then crucial vote – GJM makes Gorkhaland a pre-condition for voting in favour of the UPA
Posted by barunroy on July 18, 2008
FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS
DARJEELING, July 17: The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) has said that the Congress MP from Darjeeling Dawa Norbula should vote for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government during the confidence motion slated for July 22 only if the Centre makes a commitment on the creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland.
“We want him to support the ruling UPA only if it decides to support Gorkhaland. If the UPA does not do so, then Norbula should vote against the government,” GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said here yesterday.
According to sources, the GJM president Bimal Gurung has categorically told this to Narbula over telephone.
“We want Norbula to vote for the UPA government in the July 22 trust vote only if there is commitment by the Centre on the creation of Gorkhaland; otherwise he should not vote in favour of the government,” Mr. Giri said.
He went on to categorically say that if Norbula fails to do so, then the people should not allow him to enter Darjeeling ever again. Dawa Norbula was elected to the Lok Sabha from Darjeeling on a Congress ticket in 2004. The Congress-led UPA government faces a crucial floor test in the Lok Sabha July 22 to prove its majority in the wake of the withdrawal of support to it by its erstwhile Communist allies over the India-US nuclear deal.
JTM said
What happened finally? What did Norbula do? I did not see him anywhere. Was he one of the abstainees?
PJ said
Now it is for Mr Norbula to show unka dum kitna he. I hope he delivers on his words.
I completely identified myself with Omar Abdullah’s simple and poignant speech. I hope our leaders too learn a thing or two, inspite of all the good they are doing.