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Chief of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha (GJMM) supremo, Bimal Gurung said on Monday that their dream of achieving a separate ‘Gorkhaland’ is near, while addressing a crowd at the memorial programme to remember all those who were killed in course of the Gorkhaland movement in the Darjeeling hills.

Gurung referring to the demand of Gorkhaland, vaguely said that he had done a slight mistake while calculating his vision in achieving their dream in 2010. He said, "The vision was based on assurances I had received then. However, now the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) is in power and only a Rajya Sabha mandate is needed. The BJP government has promised us and now we are waiting." He added, "Now I am a conscious leader and we cannot commit any mistakes. Once Gorkhaland is achieved, the martyrs of the hills will be given apt respect."

It is to be noted that during the election campaign in the year 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sent waves of hope and encouragement among the people of the Darjeeling hills when he said, "Gorkha ka sapna mera sapna hein." The national manifesto of 2009 and 2014 of BJP also said that it will, "sympathetically examine and appropriately consider the long pending demands of the Gorkhas, the Adivasis and other people of Darjeeling district and the Dooars region."

Felicitation: The GJMM also felicitated the family members of all those who lost their lives for the Gorkhaland movement, honouring them with a khada and a gift, in the "Sahid Diwas" (Martyr’s day) programme organised by the GJMM in all the three subdivisions of Darjeeling.

The programme was attended by family members of 219 martyrs belonging to Darjeeling.

Appeal for unity: Gurung also appealed to all political parties, social organizations, senior citizens and everyone to join hands with the GJMM and work together for attaining their ultimate goal– Gorkhaland. "If we all want Gorkhaland, why work separately? Rather we should work unitedly and give solace to the souls of all those who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of Gorkhaland."

Highrise buildings: Meanwhile, the GTA chief ordered all high rise buildings to be dismantled and illegal constructions to be stopped. He also asked the municipality to immediately start with demolishing two floors of a high rise building that has been constructed in Chowk Bazar recently. According to Gurung, people will soon benefit from projects initiated by the GTA. He said that all the projects are designed to generate employment opportunities for the youth of Darjeeling.

Landslide rehab: On the recent landslide catastrophe, Gurung who will be leaving for Delhi on 1 August, said that during his stay in Delhi, he will be meeting the PM and talk to him about the victims of the recent landslide and about building 50,000 to 60,000 houses for the people of the hills belonging to remote villages and for those who do not have proper houses."

According to him, the land settlement for the purpose of rehabilitation of the landslide victims of Mirik have already been done and the work of constructing model houses for the landslide victims will be starting from 29 August in Mirik. On the other hand, Gorkha National Liberation Front too observed "Sahid Diwas," in the hills.