GTF confers with Sikkim parties and organizations on Gorkhaland demand

GANGTOK, 01 Oct: The Gorkhaland Task Force [GTF] convened a meeting with leaders from different political parties and non-political organizations at Press Club of Sikkim on Sunday to discuss various issues related to the Gorkhaland statehood demand.
The meeting was attended by Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee president NB Bhandari, Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad’s Dr AD Subba, All Sikkim Educated Self-Employed and Unemployed Association president Nawin Kiran, Concerned Society of Sikkim vice-convener Pradeep Yonzon and representatives from other organizations of Sikkim.

GTF chairman, Enos Das Pradhan explained that GTF was formed under the banner of Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh and has visited different states and submitted representations to the leaders of different regional and national parties seeking support for the statehood demand. He added that now the GTF has arrived in Sikkim as the state has played a significant role in the recognition of Nepali language and could play a significant role to solve the Gorkhaland issue.
Mr Pradhan argued that the Gorkhaland Demand was not a Darjeeling-based issue but was a national issue of the entire Gorkha community. He stated that the Centre believes that it has solved the Gorkhaland issue [with the GTA] but the GTF wants to reinforce the message that the statehood issue was still alive.
In his address, the SPCC president, Mr Bhandari, urged Gorkhas to stand united and pursue the Gorkhaland state formation demand with singleminded commitment. He added that being a national issue, there should not be any political divisions between political parties of the Gorkha community. He assured full support to the demand and offered to coordinate efforts with everyone on the issue.
The meeting was also addressed by other representatives and was also attended by All India Gorkha League general secretary, Pratap Khati, Gorkhaland Rajya Nirman Morcha president, Dawa Pakhrin, CPIRM Kalimpong zone president, Kishor Pradhan among others.