JMM not to support Gjmm on statehood issue
STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
Siliguri, 6 August 
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha&’s north Bengal regional unit that has a standing alliance with the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha in the Terai-Dooars region, has decided to maintain neutrality vis-à-vis the raging demand of Gorkhaland and the subsequent unrest in
the Hills.
The general secretary, JMM north Bengal unit, Mr Raju Bora, said they would play the role of disinterested spectators with the GJMM hyping stance on the issue of statehood for
the Gorkhas. 
“As the statehood movement has so far remained confined in the Hills and we have not yet received any message from the JMM headquarters in Ranchi regarding the sensitive issue, we are keeping ourselves aloof for the time being. However, we will form rural bodies along with the GJMM in this region, as we fought the rural polls together,” he added.
“We stand by our commitment regarding the issue of inclusion of 396 mouzas from this region in the GTA. Our stand on the proposed ATA (Adivasi Territorial Administration) will remain unchanged. But we will never extend support to the GJMM if they drag their statehood movement in the Dooars demanding the region to be included in the proposed area of Gorkhaland,” Mr Bora said.
Mr Bora also cleared his party&’s stance regarding the panchayat bodies across the Dooars that have thrown up hung verdicts.
“The JMM is for understanding across the political divide. We will keep doors open for understanding with the Congress, Trinamul Congress and Left Front parties,” he said.
“Though we have not received specific direction from the JMM&’s top leadership we are open to block/ local level understanding with the mainstream political parties to form panchayat bodies where the status is uncertain. The interests of the local people are the yardsticks for going ahead in the direction of board-formation,” he said.
He said his party would not spurn Trinamul Congress though the ruling party is now at loggerheads with the GJMM on the current unrest over Gorkhaland. “This despite the fact that the JMM and the Congress have decided to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections together,” he added.