As the movement for a separate Gorkhaland intensifies, the advocacy for merger of Darjeeling with Sikkim has begun.

R. Moktan from Kalimpong, D. K. Bomzon from Kurseong and Ashok Chong from Sikkim are spearheading the move for a Darjeeling-Sikkim merger, an Indian newspaper reports say.

They have demanded a Greater Sikkim where Jalpaiguri, Dooars and Mechi in Nepal would be included as a part in the new Sikkim.

The three leaders held meeting with local leaders in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sikkim for a merger through the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) recently.

However, political parties in Sikkim – opposition party Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad (SHRP), State Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and ruling Sikkim Democratic Party – rejected the idea saying it was impossible, but expressed their solidarity for Gorkhaland state for the identity of Darjeeling people.

“No doubt we have the same culture, tradition and language but we don’t have the same political scenario here, like Darjeeling” media quoted Tara Shrestha, general secretary SHRP as saying.

The Statesman quoted Dr GS Yonzon, president of BJP Darjeeling, to have said, “This is our movement for our identity so either this way or the other way we just want to be free from Bengal”.

Darjeeling was part of Nepal in the eighteenth century and then it belonged to Sikkim at the turn of the century. After an agreement between the British political officer for Sikkim and Tibet Sir Claude White, Sikkim’s King Tashi Namgyal and the Bengal officer of that time, Darjeeling was gifted to British East India Company to set up a sanatorium centre due to its suitable climate and hospital for tuberculosis patients. nepalnews.com ia May 13 08