Gangtok: In an embarrassment to the
Congress, its senior leader Nar Bahadur Bhandari on Wednesday
favoured a separate state for the people of Darjeeling in
neighbouring West Bengal and said it did not matter to him
whether its name was to be Gorkhaland or any other.
Contrary to the stand of Congress leaders from West
Bengal, including the Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee,
ruling out carving out of a separate state from West Bengal
comprising Darjeeling Hills and adjoining reasons, Bhandari
said that the demand for a separate state was "fully
justified.
"I stand to support the separate statehood demand of
the people of the Darjeeling hills and adjoining areas," the
former Chief Minister told reporters here.
He said he was aware of the stand of the Congress
leadership, particularly party leaders from West Bengal.
Bhandari also asked Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar
Chamling to support the cause by adopting a resolution in the
state legislature.
"Chamling must not forget the commitment made to the
Gorkhas from Darjeeling to support their cause. It is time
that he delivered," he said.
At the same time, Bhandari lashed out at Chamling for
the prevailing strained relations between the people of
Darjeeling and Sikkim. He referred to the PIL filed by an aide
of the Chief Minister in the Supreme Court against frequent
blockades by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha of the highway linking
the state from Darjeeling.
"The Chamling government should be held responsible if
any untoward incident takes place between the people of the
two regions," Bhandari said.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, January 27, 2010, 17:26