Darjeeling (WB): Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) President and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) chief executive Bimal Gurung has said that his party has not dropped the Gorkhaland statehood demand.
“We are taking it to Delhi instead as we do not want to disrupt the tourism industry of our place,” Gurung said at a ceremony for developing the Manju Tourism Spot (Phase II) on Friday.
Gurung later told the media that the state government will have no say in the matter of Gorkhaland. He said he had full faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the statehood cause.
The GJM chief accused the state government of adopting a delaying tactics to postpone the scheduled tripartite meeting between the Centre, state and the GJM on the statehood issue.
Gurung also urged hill residents not to disrupt the ongoing development work as it was meant for their own Flaying West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, he said despite she having announced several development projects for the Darjeeling hills, not a single one has started till now.
On whether he would meet the Chief Minister when she visits the hills next, he said, “She will come and go, but we will continue with our work.”
The second phase of the project is expected to cost Rs 7.55 crore and will be completed within 18 months.
A butterfly park, cafeteria, aquarium, flower exhibition centre, a 55ft musical fountain, tree house, car parking and swimming pool among other facilities will come up, a GTA spokesman said.
