Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha leader Bimal Gurung while expressing his disappointment on Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss his plea seeking transfer of cases booked on him and his supporters “to private investigation agency” on Saturday said that while he was “disappointed” with apex court’s decision, everything is still not lost. GJM leader released a video in Nepali from an unknown location, said “I am addressing my Gorkha brothers and sisters, who have patiently and faithfully waited all these terrible days. The Supreme Court verdict passed yesterday was disappointing. But I request to all not to lose heart. We all should respect the verdict given by the court. However, I want to state that all is not lost and this was not the last resort available to us. We still have other options and we are working on it. We should not lose our belief and confidence.”
A Bench of Justices A.K. Sikri and Ashok Bhushan pronounced their verdict against Bimal Gurung and his colleagues for creating unrest in Darjeeling.
Justice Bhushan, who observed the judgment, said that the Constitution only protects the right to assemble peacefully. “Demonstrations, whether political, religious or social or other demonstrations, which create public disturbances or operate as nuisances or create or manifestly threaten some tangible public or private mischief are not covered by protection under Article 19(1) (free speech),” the court held. A demonstration was meant to convey a feeling of disillusionment to those in authority. But it might take different forms, it said.
Different factions of GJM and Binay Tamang groups including parties such as the GNLF expressed their joy on SC decision claiming it to be final nail in Bimal Gurung’s coffin and he will not be able to re-join regional political parties in the hills anymore. Anit Thapa of GJM’s Binay Tamang faction had indicated that Bimal Gurung and his supporters in this six month have lost huge mass support.
Backfiring this statements made by Tamang faction, Gurung said, “I know 80 to 90 percent of our people support the agitation and are still with me. The rest are working under fear and threats. I have not worked against the will of the people. So there is no need to be afraid.”
Asserting the fact that they are not terrorists or anti-nationals, he further added: “It was at the request of the Home Minister Rajnath Singh that I lifted the strike after 104 days and requested the central government to organise a tripartite meeting. This is an issue of identity, therefore, it needs a political solution. We are not terrorists or anti-nationals. We are only seeking solution to the identity crisis we experience. We have always respected the law, the Constitution and the judiciary. We have to maintain peace and have patience.”
Pointing out to the Darjeeling police station Bimal Gurung alleged that the politics of violence is played by West Bengal government and he will never give up and will continue to work for his community.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
