GJAC’s cultural movement losing ground PRADIP LOHAGUN, KALIMPONG, 25 Sep 2013: Just a while ago, thousands of aspirants for a Gorkhaland state could be seen bursting out on the streets of Kalimpong condemning chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s speeches, but that swell has now shrunk to a handful of people donning Daura-Surwal and Dhaka-Sari and continuing with the cultural agitation. The so-called cultural movement launched by the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee on September 13 seems to have failed to gather steam and effectiveness. Demonstrations, rallies and deputations by people in traditional attire appear to have been forced upon and not an impromptu gesture of the masses. The inertia was witnessed today again in 42 Gorubathan Constituency where some GJM supporters took out a cultural procession. The rally was led by GJM municipal committee secretary Kumar Chamling and leaders including Prem Chettri. They submitted a deputation demanding separate statehood to the deputy magistrate and dispersed thereafter in mechanical fashion. The GJAC has failed to assess its cultural agitation programme after launching it with much fanfare, with the same people who participated with fervour in the ‘ghar bhitra janta’ and ‘janta sadakma’ campaigns showing little enthusiasm in the cultural movement. The joint forum has vowed to make the statehood movement into a national issue by focusing on the centre, but the movement seems to be fizzling out in the place of its origin. Moreover, GJM chief BImal Gurung’s declaration of starting a violent agitation after October 20 has begun confusing the hills residents.
Posted on: Thu, 26 Sep 2013 05:30:39 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015