Darjeeling, Dec 17 (ANI): The indefinite hunger strike launched by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), to press for the creation of separate Gorkhalad state entered the seventh day on Thursday.

Earlier, the GJM rejected the West Bengal Government’s appeal to withdraw the stir but assured that it would participate in the tripartite talks scheduled to be held on December 21.

The demand for Gokhaland gained momentum after the Central Government announced initiation of creation of Telangana state out of the Andhra Pradesh.

“This is our right to demand our separate state. Gorkhaland will be formed. We have put forth our demands abiding by the rules of the constitutional rights,” said Bimal Gurung, chief of GJM.

The GJM earlier had said that the government ought to consider their demand and not prompt them to sacrifice their lives.

“We have spoken to the Home Minister and this is for sure that we do not want to live in Bengal anymore. We want Gorkhaland, our separate state. Nothing else will be discussed except for the separate state issue,” said Roshan Giri, General Secretary of GJM.

The party spoke about joining the tripartite talks but refused to discuss anything but Gorkhaland.

“P Chidambaram told us to carry forward our demand. And he assured us that the tripartite meeting will be taken on a fast track and also appealed to us to withdraw the agitation activities,” Giri added. (ANI)