Morcha youths set stage for state stir
Darjeeling, Nov. 25: The Gorkha Janmukti Yuwa Morcha has started the groundwork for the revival of the agitation for a separate state by reorganising its units and appealing to people to write the slogan “we want Gorkhaland” on walls.
The youth wing of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha had recently announced that it would renew the demand for Gorkhaland by holding a meeting at Mungpoo on December 18.
“We have already started reorganising Yuwa Morcha units in different place. Our supporters are visiting various municipalities and villages to bring together youths for the movement. We are giving thrust to the consolidation of our position in Teesta Valley and areas along NH31A,” said Sidhant Rai, the organising secretary of the Yuwa Morcha.
Sources said office-bearers of the Yuwa Morcha had been removed at different units and new faces brought in to give a fillip to the Gorkhaland stir.
The most notable part of the shuffle was the appointment of Sanjay Thulung as the vice-president of the outfit’s central committee. The post had been lying vacant for long.
The organisation is seeking to involve the common people also in the agitation.
“We appeal to all people to start rewriting the slogan ‘we want Gorkhaland’ on walls and any every other available space, especially along roads from tomorrow onwards,” he added.
The Morcha had initiated a similar campaign when it had started the agitation for the statehood in 2007. The party had asked all shopkeepers to use the word “Gorkhaland” on their sign boards.
The Yuwa Morcha today said the Mungpoo meeting might be advanced depending on the situation (with regard to the formation of small states) in the country.
“We might bring forward the date of the meeting if a situation favourable for the formation of small states emerges in any other part of the country. The Mungpoo event has been planed to announce our agitation programmes,” said Rai.
The decision to restart the agitation was taken after Uttar Pradesh Assembly had passed a resolution on November 21 to divide the state into four.
The youth wing today sent a letter to the President, Prime Minister, home minister, BJP president and also to the Morcha president Bimal Gurung, saying Gorkhaland deserved to be given preference if the government had plans to form new states.
Salary hike demand
The Morcha-affiliated Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union has demanded a 33 per cent hike in the salaries of tea garden staff. A three-year agreement had been reached between planters and trade unions earlier to increase the wages of workers and the sub-staff.
“The wage hike for the staff is still due. We demand a flat 33 per cent increase in the salaries,” said P.T. Sherpa, the president of the Morcha union. The hike is due from April 1. The Darjeeling Tea Association will hold a meeting of the unions and the planters on November 28 to discuss the issue.
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