Chief Minister Pawan Chamling pledges support to Gorkhaland movement

New Delhi, Jan 9 Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today pledged support to the Gorkhaland movement, terming the demand for a separate state by Gorkhas their"constitutional right"but said his state suffers the most due to road blockades caused by the agitation.

" Their (Gorkha&aposs) demands are constitutional and India must acknowledge the Gorkha people their rightful demand for a separate state and not ignore it. There were other states too which were demarcated on similar demands,"Chamling, who was here to receive an award from the Vice President Hamid Ansari for the state&aposs overall progress in the health sector told reporters.

Holding the West Bengal government and Union of India responsible for losses arising due to the blockade of the National Highway 31A -- Sikkim&aposs only road link to the Indian mainland -- Chamling said that the people of the hill state have the right to seek compensation for the economic losses arising out of such blockades.

"The government of West Bengal is not affected and neither is the Union of India.We are the worst affected since the movement began in 1987,"he said.

Pointing out that Darjeeling, once termed the queen of hills, has undergone rapid degradation over the years, Chamling sought support of the Centre to do something to resolve the Gorkhaland issue in an amicable manner.

Chamling was vocal about the restoration of peace and beauty of the region and said that the demand for Gorkhaland is not just limited to the demand of the Gorkhas as it also involves restoring the" Queen of Hills"to her past glory.

Source: Agencies