Gorkha outfit withdraws indefinite Darjeeling shutdown (Lead)
July 27th, 2009 - 9:42 pm ICT by IANSSiliguri (West Bengal), July 27 (IANS) The pro-Gorkhaland Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) Monday withdrew its indefinite shutdown in the three hill sub-divisions of West Bengal’s Darjeeling district ahead of the Aug 11 tripartite talks in New Delhi.
The shutdown called by GJM, which wants a separate Gorkhaland state to be carved out of parts of northern West Bengal, had stalled normal life in the sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong since July 13.
Apart from Gorkhaland, the GJM also demanded removal of Inspector General of Police (North Bengal) K.L. Tamta alleging that he was instigating their opponents.
GJM chief Bimal Gurung announced the withdrawal of the agitation at a public meeting in Chowrasta in Darjeeling town.
GJM press and publicity secretary Harka Bahadur Chhetri said the outfit would wait for the outcome of the Aug 11 talks, the third round, with the state and central governments on the Gorkhaland demand. “We will review our stand Aug 17,” Chhetri said.
Earlier, the state government appealed to GJM to withdraw the agitation in order to create a conducive atmosphere for the talks.
The GJM organised indefinite shutdowns twice last year and once in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls this year, severely hitting tea and tourism industry - the bread and butter of the region.
Two rounds of tripartite talks held last year in New Delhi had failed to break the deadlock.
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- Sixth round of Darjeeling tripartite July 24 - Jul 17, 2010
- Gorkha outfit calls off indefinite Darjeeling shutdown - Jul 27, 2009
- Day 3 of shutdown in Darjeeling, tension continues - Feb 11, 2011
- GJM shutdown cripples life in Darjeeling hills - Jan 13, 2011
- Shutdown cripples life in Darjeeling for sixth day - Feb 14, 2011
- State not delaying Darjeeling talks: Narayanan - Feb 11, 2011
- Bangla group's shutdown in Siliguri cripples life - Jan 16, 2011
- Shutdown disrupts life in Darjeeling hills - Feb 09, 2011
- Day 4 of Darjeeling shutdown: Interlocutor meets officials - Feb 12, 2011
- Darjeeling accord on July 18: Mamata (Lead) - Jul 15, 2011
- Books vs bullets: Stir hits Darjeeling boarding schools - Mar 08, 2011
- GJM mulls ending shutdown in Darjeeling hills - Jul 23, 2009
- Bangla group's shutdown call evokes partial response - Jan 17, 2011
- Tripartite meeting on Gorkhaland issue Aug 24 - Jul 14, 2009
Tags: agitation, bread and butter, central governments, conducive atmosphere, darjeeling district, deadlock, gjm, gurung, inspector general, kalimpong, kurseong, Lok Sabha, New Delhi, north bengal, publicity secretary, shutdowns, state government, tourism industry, tripartite talks, west bengal