DARJEELING HILLS: BJP appeals to GJM not to disturb Sikkim during its protests
Posted by barunroy on July 12, 2009
FROM NEW KERALA.COM
Gangtok, July 11 : The BJP today appealed to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) to ‘look into other modes of protest’ in pursuance of its Gorkhaland demand so as not to affect the people of Sikkim.
”I appeal to the GJM to formulate other ways of protest. They should adopt other means of agitation so that people of Sikkim are not disturbed,” Harendra Pratap, BJP incharge of Northeastern states, including Sikkim, said in a press meet here.
Mr Pratap was speaking in the context of the proposed indefinite bandh called by the GJM in Darjeeling hills which will start from July 13.
Any bandh called in Darjeeling usually isolates Sikkim from the rest of the nation as its only lifeline, NH 31A, passes through Kalimpong subdivision of Darjeeling district.
The GJM has announced that NH 31 A will also be shut down during the proposed bandh.
Mr Pratap’s appeal assumed significance considering the fact that the saffron party has taken up the Gorkhaland demand in Parliament on behalf of the GJM with its MP Jaswant Singh winning from Darjeeling constituency backed by GJM in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
”Mr Singh and the BJP is committed to Gorkhaland demand,” Mr Pratap added.
While appealing to the GJM to not to disturb Sikkim, the BJP leader also urged the Centre to seriously consider alternative highways for Sikkim.
”It is not proper for a strategic border state of Sikkim to have only one way out,” he said.
Regarding the GJM’s bandh call in protest against alleged police atrocities against its supporters yesterday at Panighata under Kurseong subdivision, Mr Pratap said, ”The bandh by GJM has been called to protest police atrocities, which proves that the West Bengal government has not changed its character. The West Bengal government is going out and is restoring to such tactics.”
Sanity said
Harendra Pratap is missing the point here. The strike in Darjeeling makes no impact if it does not disrupt Sikkim. Sad but true. The administrations in Darjeeling, West Bengal and Delhi would give a hoot if Darjeeling called for a year-long strike because it doesn’t affect them or “their people”. But the entire state of Sikkim is cut off from the country during a Darjeeling strike. This sure creates an impact as the politician in Sikkim can do nothing but complain to the center. Every politician in Darjeeling knows this fact and drives the most mileage out of it.
Coming to the point of creating alternate routes bypassing Darjeeling, it is simply impossible! Darjeeling completely blocks Sikkim from the rest of the country. There is NO way to bypass Darjeeling unless they want to go underground for 20-30 kilometers.
JTM said
Unfortunate
RAJA said
1.
a proposed way to sikkim is through bhutan
kumar said
Sikkim is already seriously thinking to make a tunnel route from Rangpo to Sevok. The technology is avaiable. Last year a US company presented a power point presentation on such proposal.
Tunnel is the only way out for Sikkim.So now we have to rake recourse to Tunnel route for a permanent solution.
Tunnel are good as it will not be affected by floods/landslides and the journey time will be just 30 minutes from Rangpo to Sevoke.
Cheers for Tunnel.
MMM said
BJP knows that cutting of sikkim is a serious threat to India’s nation Security, and no national party can support that.
@Sanity
If Sikkim and Darjeeling is taken over by the Chinese than can your GL agitation will go under the boots of Chinese Army.
No rational person can support any enforcement of bandh, bandh is the ultimate form of agitation and bandh support should be voluntary and in a democratic country like India “enforcement” of bandhs should be banned.
I Love My India said
These anti Indian GJMMs days are numbered. Before death it is last whisker. These GJMM must be put under Chiness rule for few years, then they will understand the meaning of Indian Democracy.
Sanity said
#4.
Seriously??!! Who is going to foot that bill? Do mean from Rangpo to Sevoke (under the Teesta river!!!)or Rangpo to the Dooars side (under Kalimpong!!!? It is not impossible but by the time such a project would be completed, Gorkhaland would have become a reality. Then, what is the use of the tunnel?
Sanity said
#5.
If the Chinese were to march into Darjeeling, there would be no West Bengal left, so where is the question of asking liberation from Bengal.
Frankly, anyone can form any rule in a “free” and “democratic” India. The only difference is that if this rule is enforced by the party in power it becomes a constitutional rule. If the BJP gets a majority at the center it will create an anti-conversion law, if the Left comes to power they will make bandhs legal throughout the nation and if the Congress comes to “absolute” power then it will make Rahul Gandhi the king of India. The best would be if mayawati came to power at the center – we will have Maya statues all over the country. So you see, there is no single “rule” that a democratic country like India must follow.
JTM said
Allora, Italiano bella, pl visit Darjeeling with yr piccolo. ciao
geeta bari said
I being a gorkha will always support the gorkhaland issue and will over look whetever process they take to get it because if we get the land ultimately we all will benefit so, as Im doing nothing to support the cause I deeply feel that I do not have the right to critcize it also.
Deek said
I am not Gorkha but I support Gorkhaland. But blocking national highways is not the way. GJM cripples Sikkim..and that is not acceptable. There are alternate ways to protest: Put a bandh in Kolkata…or Delhi..or atleast leave one sikkim highway open. Forget strategic location of Sikkim etc…cuz if Chinese make advances…bandh will disappear automatically. Even GJM will call it off..and there would be no problem for Army’s movement. But in normal situations…it definitely affects Sikkim…students..tourist..tea workers…a lot of people. Why dont GJM leaders go on hunger strike infront of Delhi parliament? Its becuase that is a tough choice..and all they want to do now is to get political milage out of this bandh.
JTM said
Why dont GJM leaders go on hunger strike infront of Delhi parliament?
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I dont know where you are from but no such thing is allowed in front of the Indian Parliament. Even normal movemnet is restricted ever since the terrorist attack at the Indian Parliament.
Sanity said
The general aim of a strike is to gain attention and whoever blocks NH31A gets that. Why would there be a strike in Darjeeling if there is no message sent to the Center or the WB government? And what easier way than to block NH31A. Yes, it does cause inconvenience to the people but that is India – people suffer all the time!