The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha on Monday expelled Bimal Gurung, Roshan Giri and eleven other leaders from the party holding them responsible for the “irresponsible’’ agitation in Darjeeling which had led to massive violence.
The party’s central committee led by Binay Tamang met on Monday and decided to expel the leaders for six months. However, dispute remains on Tamang's right to expel anybody from the party as he himself had been expelled earlier by Gurung.
Monday's central committee also decided to expel Gurung’s wife Asha from the chief of women’s wing of the party.
Tamang became the party president and Anik Thapa, his close associate, became the general secretary replacing Giri.
“No doubt the three months long agitation was diverted to wrong path. It brought terrorism in our place. Bimal Gurung always vowed to take the path of Gandhi but what he did actuality caused irreparable damage to Darjeeling,” said Anik Thapa.
Interestingly, the decision of GJM was taken a day before Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s trip to North Bengal. Mamata is going to Siliguri on Tuesday to take stock of the situation in Darjeeling. She would also hold a grand administrative meeting of North Bengal districts.
Both Gurung and Giri, who are absconding now, are facing sedition cases under UAPA sections. While Giri believed to have been in Delhi, Gurung is hiding in Sikkim, said West Bengal police sources.
Recently Gurung won a few legal battles. He got a temporary reprieve in a murder case in Darjeeling, probed by CBI, after a court in Kolkata asked police not to arrest him till his anticipatory bail petition is heard.
A strong pro-Gorkha stand taken by Sikkim government also helped Gurung get shelter in that state, said West Bengal government.
“Gurung is in touch with senior BJP leaders in Delhi and Kolkata. We have proof of that,’’ said North Bengal development minister, Rabindranath Ghosh.
