Split fears after top GNLF leader suspended

SNS, Kurseong, 23 February 2018: After the dominant party in the Hills, the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha, broke into two factions over last year's Gorkhaland agitation, another major player in Hill politics, the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) now stares at a possible split.

The split possibilities have grown after active GNLF leader and spokesperson of the Kurseong party unit, Daya Dewan, was suspended from the party by the GNLF Kurseong branch.

Talking to reporters here today, Mr Dewan said that he had recently made a statement in Mirik, saying that the Hill Area Development Committee (HADC, given by the state government) was not good for the GNLF and that it is instead an obstacle to the demand for the Sixth Schedule status as per the Indian Constitution for Darjeeling Hills.

" I had also requested my party chief, Mr Mann Ghising, to leave the HADC as all supporters or members had joined the party and supported it for the Sixth Schedule Status and not the HADC," Mr Dewan said. He further claimed that whatever he had said were his personal opinion and not the party's views.

However, the statements didnot go down well with the party's Kurseong branch president Nima Lama, who "expelled" him from the party for three months.

"I have not contacted the central party leadership regarding the suspension, but I have faith on my senior and central leadership. I will willingly accept whatever decision they take," Mr Dewan said. Mr Dewan further claimed that several senior GNLF leaders and central

committee members have agreed that the HADC was not good for the GNLF. Asked if the HADC has broken the party into two groups, Mr Dewan said he has also "been getting the same kind of indication as there are several leaders and activists in the GNLF who are against the HADC."

The GNLF Kurseong branch president, Mr Lama had announced the suspension of Mr Dewan in a press statement.

GNLF Spokesperson Neeraj Zimba said the party's branches can take such decisions and that the central leaders cannot "sideline" the branches. "However, keeping in mind Mr Dewan's contribution to the party over the years, we will certainly discuss the matter and see what can be done, but Mr Dewan has to first approach us," Mr Zimba said.

After the Hill unrest last year that ended in September, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee elevating rebel GJMM leader Binoy Tamang to the post of the chairman of the Board of administrators for the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration the CM also formed the separate HADC under the chairmanship of GNLF chief Mann Ghisingh. The state government said that the supplementary body would supervise progress work in specific sectors in the Hills. "The committee shall work in such areas/subjects as the state government may assign to them from time to time," a notification issued by the state government's Home and Hill Affairs Department had said in November last year.