Pune: In the wake of the recent killings of protesters demanding a separate Gorkhaland and the indefinite lockdown in Darjeeling, a Global Gorkha Unity march was carried out in Pune on Sunday to support the demand.
The protesters of Gorkha community and locals from different walks of life participated in the march, which started from Ambedkar Udyan to Collectorate and back. Besides Pune, the global march of Gorkhas was also carried out in Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, San Francisco, New York, Munich, London, Hague, Paris and Tel Aviv.
Suresh Kumar Gurung, an IT professional and a member of the core committee organising the protest, said, “There are many reasons for this protest, but the foremost reason is identity. Every Indian living in this nation has a state for them, but for Gorkhas there is none. People call us Nepalis, Chinese but we are Indians and need a state for us so that we can identify ourselves.”
“Some rumour mongers said that the protest for Gorkhaland in Darjeeling was instigated by Maoists and China. But it’s not like that. Gorkhas are the people who have always laid down their lives for the nation, they were the first to fight the Chinese in the battle of Namti plains, near Walong in Arunachal Pradesh.”
Ambika Pradhan, a protester, said, “This movement started with the imposition of Bengali language by the present West Bengal government on the people of the hills, in the month of June. People started a peaceful protest but within a month, nine people were killed by state forces, without any reason. Gorkhas have a separate identity, they are not identified with Bengal and are considered as foreigners in their own nation.” Julius, a coordinator, said, “We are not affiliated with any political party and this movement has nothing to do with any political leader.”
