Vidarbha, Gorkha demands intensify
The decision to create Telangana is all set to open up a Pandora’s box. Demands for separate statehood, which have so far been simmering, could now gather momentum.
The first shot was fired on Tuesday with Maharashtra Congress leader Vilas Muttemwar demanding the carving out of a Vidarbha state. The protagonists of Gorkhaland and Bodoland on Tuesday threatened to intensify their agitation for statehood. Union minister and RLD leader Ajit Singh has now stepped up the demand for a Harit Pradesh while Bundelkhand leaders would be taking out a march to demand a separate state of Bundelkhand.
Besides these, there are 10 other demands for separate statehood — Saurashtra in Gujarat, Purvanchal in Uttar Pradesh, carving out Ladakh from Jammu and Kashmir, a Vindhya Pradesh from Madhya Pradesh, Mithila in Bihar, Coorg in Karnataka, Tulu Land in Karnataka, Kongu Nadu in Tamil Nadu, Kukiland in Manipur and Dimaraji in Assam. J& K chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah described the creation of Telangana as a “dangerous trend”.
Bimal Gurung on Tuesday resigned as the head of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration immediately after the news came of the Congress Working Committee and UPA partners’ nod for a Telengana state.
The GJM is also giving a call for indefinite bandh in the hills from Saturday. “After the acceptance to Telengana demand, there is no point in our continuing in the GTA. Mr Gurung has sent his resignation letter to governor M. K. Narayanan,” GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said over the phone.
Two days ago, Mr Gurung had threatened that he would quit the autonomous body which was constituted to govern the hills after the signing of a tripartite agreement between the West Bengal government, Centre and the GJM. “Our demand for Gorkhaland is over a hundred year old. If the Centre can agree for a separate Telengana then it has no reason to not concede our demand for a Gorkhaland. We don’t want to live in West Bengal even for a day,” Mr Giri added.
Meanwhile, the separate Gorkhaland movement took an ugly turn on the second day of the three- day bandh as a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporter tried to immolate himself in Kalimpong town. Mangal Singh Rajput ( 45), poured petrol on himself at Dambarchowk.
Even before people could rush to stop him, he set himself ablaze. He was rushed to a hospital in Kalimpong and then shifted to Siliguri. He was stated to be in a critical condition.