indianexpress.com :: Subash Ghisingh meets Buddhadeb, says GNLF is not yet dead

Subash Ghisingh meets Buddhadeb, says GNLF is not yet dead

Express news service

Posted online: Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 0159 hrs IST

Kolkata, February 23
The intra-Gorkha politics in Darjeeling hills appears to be reaching a flashpoint. A day after arriving in Kolkata in the wake of a strong movement against him in the hills, Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) chief and acting administrator of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council Subash Ghisingh declared: “GNLF is not dead. I can enter Darjeeling the day I want to. But I am avoiding a confrontation.”

His remarks came after he met Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

The GNLF leader ruled out the possibility of his quitting the administrator’s post.

The GNLF chief had been staying at the Pintail village resort in Siliguri to “take rest” for some time. On Saturday, however, he reportedly told the Chief Minister that the police should not have allowed Gorkah Janakumti Morcha (GJM) supporters to gather in Siliguri and begin a hunger strike outside Pintail village.

The GJM has been demanding Ghisingh’s immediate ouster from the administrator’s post and scrapping of the Sixth Schedule Bill for Darjeelijng. Ghisingh said the proposed Bill had settled the issue among all the stakeholders — the state Government, the Centre and the GNLF.

He said the post of the administrator would cease to exist once an interim executive council came into being after the Bill got the parliamentary nod. The Darjeeling Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, reacting to Ghisingh’s remarks in Kolkata, said if the GNLF chief had the guts, he would enter Darjeeling without police protection.

“He should know that the hill people have deserted him. Ghisingh’s only objective now is to occupy the chair with the help of the state Government,” said Roshan Giri, GJM general secretary.

Giri said the state Government's announcement disallowing Ghisingh another extension after his present term expires on March 24 amounted to “giving him too long a time”.

When Ghisingh was asked whether he found it difficult to set his foot in Darjeeling, he said: “I am avoiding a confrontation”. He would not say when he planned to return to Darjeeling. After a meeting with the Chief Minister, Ghisingh said he had had a hectic tour in New Delhi, and that he was in Kolkata to brief Bhattacharjee about the present developments.

“It is my duty to brief him, the chief secretary, home secretary and the state Governor,” he said.

Asked how the talks went with the CM, Ghisingh said: “Chief Minister khush hai (he is happy)”.

	Print Story
Subash Ghisingh meets Buddhadeb, says GNLF is not yet dead Express news service Posted online: Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 0159 hrs IST Kolkata, February 23 The intra-Gorkha politics in Darjeeling hills appears to be reaching a flashpoint. A day after arriving in Kolkata in the wake of a strong movement against him in the hills, Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) chief and acting administrator of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council Subash Ghisingh declared: “GNLF is not dead. I can enter Darjeeling the day I want to. But I am avoiding a confrontation.” His remarks came after he met Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. The GNLF leader ruled out the possibility of his quitting the administrator’s post. The GNLF chief had been staying at the Pintail village resort in Siliguri to “take rest” for some time. On Saturday, however, he reportedly told the Chief Minister that the police should not have allowed Gorkah Janakumti Morcha (GJM) supporters to gather in Siliguri and begin a hunger strike outside Pintail village. The GJM has been demanding Ghisingh’s immediate ouster from the administrator’s post and scrapping of the Sixth Schedule Bill for Darjeelijng. Ghisingh said the proposed Bill had settled the issue among all the stakeholders — the state Government, the Centre and the GNLF. He said the post of the administrator would cease to exist once an interim executive council came into being after the Bill got the parliamentary nod. The Darjeeling Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, reacting to Ghisingh’s remarks in Kolkata, said if the GNLF chief had the guts, he would enter Darjeeling without police protection. “He should know that the hill people have deserted him. Ghisingh’s only objective now is to occupy the chair with the help of the state Government,” said Roshan Giri, GJM general secretary. Giri said the state Government's announcement disallowing Ghisingh another extension after his present term expires on March 24 amounted to “giving him too long a time”. When Ghisingh was asked whether he found it difficult to set his foot in Darjeeling, he said: “I am avoiding a confrontation”. He would not say when he planned to return to Darjeeling. After a meeting with the Chief Minister, Ghisingh said he had had a hectic tour in New Delhi, and that he was in Kolkata to brief Bhattacharjee about the present developments. “It is my duty to brief him, the chief secretary, home secretary and the state Governor,” he said. Asked how the talks went with the CM, Ghisingh said: “Chief Minister khush hai (he is happy)”.