Gorkhas organize global unity march today across five continents to protest atrocities in Darjeeling

The Global Gorkha Unity March represents a united voice supported by Gorkhas around the world, and is centered on achieving three key objectives: representation of all Gorkhas as a united community isolated from political endorsements; righteous examination of the situation of Darjeeling and transitional justice to the martyrs of the movement and Initiation of a project to start fund raising for the Gorkhas in Darjeeling & Kalimpong districts facing acute shortage of food and basic amenities.

The Gorkhaland movement has gained massive support not only all over India, but across the world, said Manish Chettri, Global Coordinator of the March who is based in Morrisville, NC, USA.

"The Global Unity March is an effort to endorse constitutional rights of the Indian Gorkhas to raise their demand for a separate state under the Constitution of India.”

From Adelaide in Australia to Atlanta in the U.S.A, Gorkhas living in India and across the globe will participate in the Global Unity March. Among the cities where the march will be held are San Francisco, New York, Munich, London, Hague, Paris, Tel Aviv, Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore. 

The Global Unity March, the first of its kind in support of the people-led Gorkhaland movement, serves as an occasion to show solidarity of the Gorkhas across the world and to protest against" the brutalities perpetrated by the State Government of West Bengal, India, against the peaceful protestors of Darjeeling hills and adjoining areas. The state of West Bengal has openly violated basic human rights of the citizens of Darjeeling."

It said among the oppressive measures were gunning down of peaceful protestors in Darjeeling and Kalimpong District, barring of Internet service, shut down of local news organizations operating in Darjeeling and blocking of food and essential supplies and ration entering the districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

Amidst this humanitarian crisis,  Prime Minister  Narendra Modi and the Central Government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party have remained silent spectators, it said.

The Centre has yet to redress, or even acknowledge the atrocities being committed by the West Bengal government, it said.

It said the Global Gorkha Unity March will be a peaceful and an apolitical procession to condemn the atrocities on the Gorkhas of Darjeeling, Dooars and Terai. The global Gorkha community is standing in unison and demanding a redress of these undemocratic, unconstitutional measures enforced by the Indian Central Government and the West Bengal state government.

Chettri said: “We are not affiliated with any political party, but feel the pain and helplessness of our people back home. With this single world rally, we will all march together as one, united by the common cause of #Gorkhaland.  We will march to lend our voices to our brothers and sisters back home. We will march for the dreams and aspirations of our ancestors, our children for and our identity in India as legitimate citizens.”