Former CM Chamling rejects Sikkim-Darjeeling merger, backs Gorkhaland demand

Gangtok, Sep 25 (UNI) Amid renewed political debate over the future of the Darjeeling hills and the Gorkha community, former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has strongly opposed any proposal for the merger of Sikkim with Darjeeling and extended his support to the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state. In a video message on Friday, Chamling said organisations and individuals advocating the merger were "offending" the people of both Sikkim and Darjeeling. He also claimed that a proposal for the creation of a separate North Bengal state, incorporating portions of neighbouring state, had reached the Centre. "We have such information…