www.telegraphindia.com
Kalimpong, May 19: The GNLF today condemned the Sikkim Darjeeling United Action Forum’s six-point programme that it has launched as a mark of protest against Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling’s controversial comment.

The forum had, earlier this week, decided to launch a six-point programme to pressure Chamling into withdrawing his statement — outsiders will not be allowed to work in Sikkim and will be thrown out of the state.

The movement will be started on May 21, with a public meeting at Dambar Chowk, here.

The GNLF Kalimpong MLA Gaulan Lepcha, however, opposed the forum’s programme and said: “The forum’s move is absolutely uncalled for. We condemn Chamling’s comment and will request him not to make any such statements in future as all of us are Gorkhas. But at the same time, we feel that the forum is blowing it out of proportion and making a political issue out of it.”

“What the Sikkim chief minister said was not right, but we should not make an issue out of it. We should remember how much Sikkim helped us during the Gorkhaland agitation,” he said.

Eager not to see any resentment between the neighbouring regions, Lepcha emphasised that the relation between Sikkim and Darjeeling district, especially Kalimpong, has always been cordial and that they share the same culture and tradition.

Lepcha seemed especially displeased with Kalimpong CPM zonal member Tara Sundas. “Sundas has always been a troublemaker and is the main person behind this,” he said.