Gorkha leader threatens to form Gorkhaland if December talks fail

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which is fighting for a separate state in the Darjeeling hills, has warned that it will unilaterally form 'Gorkhaland' if the next round of tripartite talks scheduled in December failed to deliver "justice".

GJM chief Bimal Gurung told a central convention of the Yuba Morcha, the youth wing of the organisation, in Darjeeling on Sunday that the fourth round of tripartite talks between the Centre, the GJM and the West Bengal government to be held on December 21 were "vital" for the Gorkhas and Gorkhaland.

"In no case will Gorkhas continue to live under the West Bengal government," he said.

Gurung said the GJM would also raise a special force of 500 youngsters that will be named after Durga Malla, the Gorkha freedom-fighter who was hanged in 1944 during British rule.

The GJM chief said 50 youngsters each from Siliguri, Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Mirik and Dooars would make up the Durga Malla force and it would be imparted guerrilla warfare training.

The force would also be provided with arms training, but "with government permission", he said.

A GJM leader said a volunteer force raised by the people of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir to help protect India during Indo-Pak war might have inspired Gurung to think of a similar force.