Protest in Siliguri against formation of a separate Gorkhaland
September 7th, 2010 - 6:56 pm ICT by ANI
Siliguri (West Bengal), Sep 7 (ANI): The Bangla-O-Bangla Bhasha Bachao Committee (BOBBBC), a regional non-political outfit, observed a 24-hour strike here on Tuesday to protest against the formation of a separate state of Gorkhaland.
The activists held the strike ahead of the eighth round of tripartite talks, to be held in New Delhi today.
The BOBBBC strongly opposed any type of talks that promote or encourage the formation of a separate state of Gorkhaland.
“Today, Bangla-O-Bangla Bhasha Bachao Committee (BOBBBC) have called a 24-hours Bangla bandh (shutdown), which have been supported spontaneously by the people of Bengal,” said BOBBBC President Mukunda Majumder.
“The purpose of this strike was to protest against the illegal granting of extraordinary power to the interim setup, which is nothing but Gorkhaland. We strongly oppose this move for Gorkhaland, that is why we call this strike,” he added.
The BOBBBC activists chanted anti-Gorkhaland and anti-tripartite meet slogans and burned effigies of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jaswant Singh.
The activists also demanded the immediate resignation of Jaswant Singh and fresh elections in the State’s Darjeeling district.
Marketplaces, business establishments, educational institutions and private offices remained closed as only some private vehicles were seen plying through deserted roads.
A delegation of seven members led by GJM General Secretary Roshan Giri is in New Delhi to attend the eighth round of tripartite meeting with officials of the Centre and the West Bengal Government.
Earlier on April 9, GJM chief Bimal Gurung met Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi, who assured him that he would talk to the Government of West Bengal and Trinamool Congress about the new territory.
The GJM had agreed during the fifth round of tripartite talks in New Delhi to the constitution of Interim Council by next year prior to the creation of a separate state.
Gorkhas, who are ethnic Nepalese, have been demanding a separate state in Darjeeling hills, to help them protect their culture and heritage. (ANI)
- Gorkha group calls for 240-hour shutdown next month - May 13, 2010
- A non-political outfit calls for 48-hour shutdown in Siliguri - Jan 16, 2011
- Bangla group's shutdown call evokes partial response - Jan 17, 2011
- Bangla group's shutdown in Siliguri cripples life - Jan 16, 2011
- Bimal Gurung blames WB Govt. for spate of shutdowns and strikes - Feb 14, 2011
- Anti-Gorkhaland body calls 24-hour shutdown in Silliguri - Mar 18, 2010
- Discussions with Chidambaram on separate Gorkhaland state positive: Roshan Giri - Jan 26, 2011
- GJM activists now demand 'Gorkha Adivasi Pradesh' - May 31, 2010
- Darjeeling bracing for peaceful settlement: Bimal Gurung - Nov 04, 2010
- GJM activists kick off relay hunger strike over separate Gorkhaland demand - May 10, 2010
- GJM leaders meet Chidambaram over separate Gorkhaland demand - Apr 09, 2010
- Gorkhaland activists to hold relay hunger strike Feb 9 - Feb 08, 2010
- GJM's support to Trinamool won't affect ties: BJP - Apr 08, 2011
- Darjeeling Gorkhas hope hill council will get a nod - Mar 03, 2012
- Shutdown in Siliguri against separate state demand - May 14, 2010
Tags: bharatiya janata party, bjp leader, business establishments, darjeeling district, educational institutions, effigies, government of west bengal, gurung, interim council, jaswant singh, mukunda, p chidambaram, political outfit, private offices, private vehicles, siliguri, trinamool congress, tripartite talks, union home minister, west bengal government