Bimal Gurung leads 11-member GJM delegation to call on Sikkim CM

GJM president, Bimal Gurung, speaks to media persons outside Mintokgang
after his meeting with Chief Minister Pawan Chamling on Wednesday 

ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 02 March: An 11-member delegation of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha [GJM] office-bearers, led by their president, Bimal Gurung, called on Chief Minister Pawan Chamling at his official residence at Mintokgang here this afternoon. The delegation also included, GJMM, spokesperson Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri, general secretary, Roshan Giri, and assistant secretary, Binay Tamang.

Speaking to media-persons as he drove out of Mintokgang after the two and half hour long meeting, the GJM president said that the meeting was a “courtesy visit” of the party on the invitation of the Chief Minister.
It was stressed that the meeting was a “totally non-political” affair during which the GJM delegation was appraised of the various means adopted by the Sikkim government to “facilitate” the demand for Gorkhaland at the Centre.
It is also learnt from the GJM delegation that the Chief Minister extended all solidarity with regard to the Sibchu incident [where 3 GJM supporters were killed in a police firing] and also spoke of how the GJM demand could be intensified through other means- other than blockading NH 31A [which impacts Sikkim as well].
The Chief Minister, it is learnt, also spoke of how Sikkim was being affected by the closure of NH-31A and that keeping the highway open would further “strengthen the bonds of brotherhood” between the two neighbours.
“The meeting was a very informal and cordial affair. We just spoke about the situation in Darjeeling and how the demand for Gorkhaland was now picking momentum. The Chief Minister assured us all support for our cause for which we shall remain ever grateful. The meeting was a fruitful one,” stated Mr. Gurung before he left for the Rangpo, the West Bengal border town today.