Gurung rediscovers sibling bonds Hill leader calls on brother Chamling BIJOY GURUNG AND VIVEK CHHETRI, The

Telegraph Gangtok/Darjeeling, March 2: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung had a face-to-face interaction with Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling in Gan gtok today, the first meeting between the two after the party was formed in 2007 . Although Gurung asserted that he had met the chief minister on the invitation of the latter, political observers feel that it was a bid to smoothen ruffled feat hers after relationship between the Morcha and Sikkim had hit the nadir over the frequent closure of NH 31A during strikes in the hills. NH31A is the only road that connects the Himalayan state with the rest of the co untry. We had come to meet the Sikkim chief minister on his invitation. It is a courtesy call as we want the blood relationship shared by the people of Sikkim and Darje eling to remain as it is. There were some elements, which had tried to spoil thi s brotherhood in the past. We also wanted an understanding on how Sikkim should not be affected during our movement and how our movement should not be affected from the Sikkim side, said the Morcha chief. Even though the details of the two-hour meeting at Chamling s Mintokgang residence were not immediately known, it is very clear that the tete-a-tete was to improv e the understanding between the two leaders. This is not the first time that Gurung had August, 2008, during a visit to Gangtok to ublicly appealed to his elder brother, Dr pport for his neglected younger brother . Chamling then. made an attempt to meet Chamling. In attend a spiritual meet, Gurung had p Pawan Chamling to lend a few words of su However, he was not successful in meeting

But many observers in Darjeeling believe Chamling had discreetly supported Gurun g by lending his voice in favour of Prashant Tamang who was vying for the Indian Idol. Even before the Morcha was formed on October 10, 2007, Prashant s victory f ound people shout slogans praising both the leaders. The relationship between the two soured when a Sikkim resident, O.P. Bhandari, f iled a case in the Supreme Court in 2008 complaining about frequent blockades on NH31A during Morcha-sponsored strikes and counter shutdowns called by other par ties. Although Bhandari filed the case as an individual, the Morcha believed tha t he had the tacit support of Chamling ast withdrawn Three Gorkha Janmukti Nari Morcha members on Wednesday withdrew their indefinite fast at Bagrakote in the Dooars. The 19-day-long hunger strike to press for a C BI probe into the Sibchu police firing was called off as the Morcha found that t he state government could not recommend the investigation by the central agency as the model code of conduct came into force. GJM chief pays courtesy visit to Sikkim CM iSikkim Gangtok March 2, 2011: A team lead by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) President Bim al Gurung along with other eleven executive members of GJM met the Chief Ministe r of Sikkim, Pawan Chamling on 2nd of March at his official residence in Mintoga ng, Gangtok.

Addressing media after the meet Mr. Gurung said that this was just a courtesy vi sit to Sikkim. Sikkim being a neighbouring state, there are blood relation betwe en Darjeeling and Sikkim for ages. Mr. Gurung informed that Chief Minister Pawan Chamling had invited them, where they discussed about social issues and CM Cham ling responded positively with respect to our ongoing Gorkhaland movement in the hills. Mr. Gurung said that some anti social elements are trying to disturb the relation, but our motto is to continue the good relation between Sikkim and Dar jeeling. He asserted that the Gorkhaland movement in the hills will have no nega tive impact on the state of Sikkim. About upcoming election in West Bengal and S ipsu incident the GJM chief said that there were no discussions on those issues during the courtesy visit today. Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri, Spokesperson informed that this was just a courtesy v isit where the social issues were discussed excluding Gorkhaland movement. This was a talk to strengthen the bonds between Darjeeling and Sikkim, Mr. Chettri ad ded. He said that the meet discussed about the present situation of Sikkim also. GJM executive members and Chief Minister Pawan Chamling held talk for about two hours at Mintogang. During the meet GJM General Secretary Mr. Roshan Giri , Spokesperson Dr. Harka B ahadur Chettri, Mr. Binay Tamang and other members of GJM were present. It is speculated that the visit was to express gratitude to the CM as during the month of February, the CM had raised the Gorkhaland issue at New Delhi during i nternal security meet. (Courtesy: Sikkim Mail)

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