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Gurung rediscovers sibling bondsHill leader calls on brother ChamlingBIJOY GURUNG AND VIVEK CHHETRI, The Telegraph

Gangtok/Darjeeling, March 2: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung had aface-to-face interaction with Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling in Gangtok today, the first meeting between the two after the party was formed in 2007.

Although Gurung asserted that he had met the chief minister on the invitation ofthe latter, political observers feel that it was a bid to smoothen ruffled feathers after relationship between the Morcha and Sikkim had hit the nadir over thefrequent closure of NH 31A during strikes in the hills.

NH31A is the only road that connects the Himalayan state with the rest of the country.

We had come to meet the Sikkim chief minister on his invitation. It is a courtesycall as we want the blood relationship shared by the people of Sikkim and Darjeeling to remain as it is. There were some elements, which had tried to spoil this brotherhood in the past. We also wanted an understanding on how Sikkim shouldnot be affected during our movement and how our movement should not be affectedfrom the Sikkim side, said the Morcha chief.

Even though the details of the two-hour meeting at Chamlings Mintokgang residencewere not immediately known, it is very clear that the tete-a-tete was to improve the understanding between the two leaders.

This is not the first time that Gurung had made an attempt to meet Chamling. InAugust, 2008, during a visit to Gangtok to attend a spiritual meet, Gurung had publicly appealed to his elder brother, Dr Pawan Chamling to lend a few words of support for his neglected younger brother. However, he was not successful in meetingChamling then.

But many observers in Darjeeling believe Chamling had discreetly supported Gurung by lending his voice in favour of Prashant Tamang who was vying for the IndianIdol. Even before the Morcha was formed on October 10, 2007, Prashants victory f

ound people shout slogans praising both the leaders.

The relationship between the two soured when a Sikkim resident, O.P. Bhandari, filed a case in the Supreme Court in 2008 complaining about frequent blockades onNH31A during Morcha-sponsored strikes and counter shutdowns called by other parties. Although Bhandari filed the case as an individual, the Morcha believed that he had the tacit support of Chamling

ast withdrawn

Three Gorkha Janmukti Nari Morcha members on Wednesday withdrew their indefinitefast at Bagrakote in the Dooars. The 19-day-long hunger strike to press for a C

BI probe into the Sibchu police firing was called off as the Morcha found that the state government could not recommend the investigation by the central agencyas the model code of conduct came into force.GJM chief pays courtesy visit to Sikkim CMiSikkim

Gangtok March 2, 2011: A team lead by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) President Bimal Gurung along with other eleven executive members of GJM met the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Pawan Chamling on 2nd of March at his official residence in Mintogang, Gangtok.

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Addressing media after the meet Mr. Gurung said that this was just a courtesy visit to Sikkim. Sikkim being a neighbouring state, there are blood relation between Darjeeling and Sikkim for ages. Mr. Gurung informed that Chief Minister PawanChamling had invited them, where they discussed about social issues and CM Chamling responded positively with respect to our ongoing Gorkhaland movement in thehills. Mr. Gurung said that some anti social elements are trying to disturb therelation, but our motto is to continue the good relation between Sikkim and Darjeeling. He asserted that the Gorkhaland movement in the hills will have no negative impact on the state of Sikkim. About upcoming election in West Bengal and Sipsu incident the GJM chief said that there were no discussions on those issuesduring the courtesy visit today.

Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri, Spokesperson informed that this was just a courtesy visit where the social issues were discussed excluding Gorkhaland movement. Thiswas a talk to strengthen the bonds between Darjeeling and Sikkim, Mr. Chettri added. He said that the meet discussed about the present situation of Sikkim also.GJM executive members and Chief Minister Pawan Chamling held talk for about twohours at Mintogang.

During the meet GJM General Secretary Mr. Roshan Giri , Spokesperson Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri, Mr. Binay Tamang and other members of GJM were present.

It is speculated that the visit was to express gratitude to the CM as during the

month of February, the CM had raised the Gorkhaland issue at New Delhi during internal security meet.

(Courtesy: Sikkim Mail)

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