DARJEELING: Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung today said he is in constant touch with the Centre and is hopeful that its ally the BJP will consider its demand for a separate Gorkhaland "compassionately". I am very hopeful that they will understand our pain and struggle and will consider our demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland. "My advice to Mamata Banerjee is please stay away from the hills. The people of the hills will not accept the TMC's hegemony," he said.Hitting out at the chief minister for calling in the Army to control the situation in the hills, Gurung said, "Mamata Banerjee is just pursuing opportunist politics. In December last year, she had accused the Army of trying to attempt a military coup.

Source: Economic Times June 13, 2017 08:03 UTC