JOIN USGorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung seems to have lost support of his community, with his recent Facebook entry drawing severe criticism.
Gurung, who shot to prominence in 2007 after ousting Subash Ghising as the leader of the Gorkhas, is probably going his predecessor’s way. Ghising also lost favour with the masses after the Gorkhaland movement in the early 1980s turned overtly violent. This time, Gurung seems to be losing support after a prolonged strike led by him caused tremendous hardship to the Gorkhas in Darjeeling.
A picture of Gurung and GJM general secretary Roshan Giri in front of the Kamakshya temple at Guwahati in Assam, posted on Facebook on October 20, was liked by around 400 people.
His earlier entries used to receive even more “likes,” at times in thousands. This time, most of the comments were not only negative but also abusive and humiliating. Most of them were in Gorkhali and a few in English.
Several people questioned the intention of Gurung and other GJM leaders. Many were sarcastic about the futility of offering prayers. According to insiders, the GJM leadership fell out of favour after their call for a prolonged strike in August, when the people in the hills had to go without proper food or drinking water for days.
The people feel that Gurung and others have betrayed their cause.