Gorkha group calls for 240-hour shutdown next month
May 13th, 2010 - 11:58 pm ICT by IANSSiliguri, May 13 (IANS) Political tempers are again running high in Darjeeling hills of northern West Bengal with the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) Thursday calling for a ten-day shutdown next month in support of its demand for a separate Gorkhaland state.
The June 12-21 shutdown call comes two days after the failed tripartite talks in Delhi that saw the GJM representatives staging a walk-out over the alleged reluctance of the central and state governments to discuss the territory of the Gorkhaland state demanded by the hill outfit.
The shutdown will cover the “proposed Gorkhaland territory” comprising the three Darjeeling hill sub-divisions - Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kursenong - the Terai (plains) region and neighbouring Jalpaiguri district’s Dooars (foothills of the Himalayas).
GJM assistant general secretary Benoy Tamang told reporters that his organisation was no more keen on participating in the next round of political level tripartite talks slated in Delhi later this month. “We now want Gorkhaland. We may not participate in this tripartite meet.”
The GJM earlier called a two-day shutdown in the “proposed Gorkhaland territory” May 15 and May 16, demanding Gorkhaland.
Its activists are also on relay hunger strike since May 10. The GJM has also called a shutdown in government offices, and stopped plying of state-run vehicles in the three hill sub-divisions.
The Bangla O Bangla Bhasa Bachao Committee has also called a 24-hour shutdown across the state Friday, protesting the move to divide the state and attacking the tripartitite talks.
Acting Superintendent of Police (Darjeeling) Gourav Sharma said all measures have been taken to prevent any breach of peace in the coming days.
GJM activists - headed by party president Bimal Gurung - have been agitating for the separate Gorkhaland state besides opposing special status to the hill governing body, the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC).
Last month, the GJM sent to the centre a proposal for an interim administrative set-up in the hills till Dec 31, 2011.
However, Tamang said his outfit was no more interested in the interim set-up. “We will now go all-out for Gorkhaland.”
- Gorkha leader Madan Tamang killed - May 21, 2010
- Shutdown affects life in north Bengal towns - May 15, 2010
- Gorkha group calls for 40 day strike in Darjeeling - Jul 04, 2010
- Protest in Siliguri against formation of a separate Gorkhaland - Sep 07, 2010
- Sixth round of Darjeeling tripartite July 24 - Jul 17, 2010
- A non-political outfit calls for 48-hour shutdown in Siliguri - Jan 16, 2011
- Darjeeling set for historic treaty - amid controversy - Jul 17, 2011
- Darjeeling accord on July 18: Mamata (Lead) - Jul 15, 2011
- Second round of tri-partite talks on Gorkhaland held - Jul 24, 2010
- Tension mounts in Darjeeling following Tamang's murder - May 22, 2010
- GJM to boycott Mamata meets in Darjeeling (Lead) - Apr 22, 2012
- GJM boycotts Mamata meets in Darjeeling - Apr 22, 2012
- Candlelight rally in Darjeeling to pay homage to Madan Tamang - May 23, 2010
- Gorkha groups' views to be sought on 'interim setup' - Aug 04, 2010
- Gorkhaland demand not a closed chapter: GJM - Jul 18, 2011
Tags: bangla, benoy, bhasa, bimal, breach of peace, darjeeling hills, dooars, general secretary, gjm, government offices, gurung, himalayas, hunger strike, kalimpong, party president, state governments, tamang, terai, tripartite talks, west bengal