Kolkata: The Chief Minister of Sikkim, Pawan Kumar Chamling, has written a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh backing the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland.
"The fulfilment of the constitutional demand of the people in the Darjeeling Hills which is deeply connected with national identity of the Indian Gorkhas will provide long awaited justice to their patriotism, which has been second to none," the letter states.
Calling the protesters who were killed in firing as martyrs, the letter says, "Unfortunately, on June 17, three young people have been martyred and several others injured in the firing. The past three decades of agitation for the statehood demand in the neighbouring hills has claimed over a 1000 lives and caused incalculable loss of property and constant threat to security of life."
While urging the Home Minister Rajnath Singh to intervene, the letter said, "Several students studying in the Hills are facing a harrowing time due to the bandh. The landlocked state of Sikkim has been suffering untold loss during the last 30 years of Gorkhaland agitation. The Sikkim Legislative Assembly has passed a resolution in 2011 and sent it to the government of India seeking a permanent solution to the pressing and longstanding problem of the people of Darjeeling Hills which would not only be in the interests of the region but also of the entire nation."
Meanwhile, all political parties in the Hills welcomed Chamling's stand on Gorkhaland.
Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), General Secretary, Roshan Giri said, "We welcome the statement of Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling ji. It is time for all of us to unite for the identity of Gorkhas."
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