Sikkim ObserverDecember 21, 1996
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Gopal Gurung’s mongol National Organization gaining ground in eastern Nepal
Nepal’s controversial politician Mr. Gopal Gurung, President of Mongol National Organization, is not only a frequent visitor to Sikkim and Darjeeling but says that his party, which contested the last parliamentary polls in Nepal, is gaining ground in eastern Nepal.
So far, the MNO has captured eight districts in Nepal, boasts Mr. Gurung, who unsuccessfully contested the parliamentary polls in 1994. His party has, however, not been registered by the Election Commission of Nepal. But this fact does not perturb Mr. Gurung who says, "Even Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress was not recognize earlier but not it has formed the government."
Asked whether he had plans to meet the Chief Minister, Mr., Pawan Chamling, the soft-spoken Nepali leader said although he helped to dislodge the former Chief Minister, Mr. Nar Bahadur Bhandari, he has no intentions of meeting Mr. Chamling.
Reacting to reports of GNLF units being set up in eastern Nepal, Mr. Gurung said several Nepali leaders have been meeting the GNLF supremo Mr. Suhash Ghising. Many of those who have been associated with the GNLF are sponsored by the "place", meaning the Nepali monarchy, Mr. Gurung said.
Asked why the Limuwan Liberation Front President, Mr. Bir Nembang had fallen out with him, Mr. Gopal said, "he has no depth of understanding and no vision." He added, "His men are now with me." Mr. Gopal said while he was fighting for 80 percent of the Nepalese, who are presently politically and economically exploited, the Front’s political perception is limited to a part of the eastern region which is dominated by the Limbu.
Mr. Gurung pointed out that his party had control over at least eight districts mostly in the eastern region. Presently, the MNO has 35,000 members all over Nepal. Mr. Gopal, who was jailed during the King’s regime for his "Communal Politics" says by the year 2003 he hopes to have at least 20 MPs from his party.
Mr. Gurung’s controversial book, "Hidden Facts in Nepalese Politics"(originally in Nepali, now translated into English) is widely circulated in Sikkim and Darjeeling. He is not working on another book on a similar theme-domination of Brahmins in Politics of Nepal and India.
By Staff Reporter, Gangtok