GJM calls for indefinite strike in hills
With external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee rejecting the demand of a separate Gorkha state and the West Bengal administration hardening its stance against the agitationists.
By ET Bureau |
NEW DELHI/KOLKATA: With external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee rejecting the demand of a separate Gorkha state and the West Bengal administration hardening its stance against the agitationists, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) on Sunday called for an indefinite strike in the Darjeeling hills from Monday evening.
The development is worrisome for the state administration as its signals a deadlock in the negotiations. The state government, which was initially reluctant to make the GJM part of the all-party efforts to sort out the issue, had agreed for talks with the outfits spearheading the movement in the hills.
The GJM said that the shutdown will resume in the three sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong. Also, the threat to block NH-31 can lead to the disruptions of supplies to Sikkim.
The GJM���s indefinite strike in the hills from June 9 had virtually thrown life out of gear there. They had suspended the strike for 60 hours for helping tourists to move out of the region.
West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, on Saturday was ensured complete support for his government���s stand on the Darjeeling issue from two significant corners���the Centre and an unanimous Left Front.
The Left Front government of West Bengal has rejected the GJM���s demand for a separate state. The CPM, which has consistently opposed demands for statehood, has the backing of its Left Front allies���CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc���on the issue.
At Saturday���s emergency meeting of the Left Front, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was entrusted the responsibility of taking a decision on it by the Left Front partners. They also stood by the chief minister���s decision not to call the GJM to an all-party meeting on June 17.
The GNLF, agitating on the same issue, was not called to such meetings even during the 80���s. At that time the Congress government at the Centre did not back the Left.
The development is worrisome for the state administration as its signals a deadlock in the negotiations. The state government, which was initially reluctant to make the GJM part of the all-party efforts to sort out the issue, had agreed for talks with the outfits spearheading the movement in the hills.
The GJM said that the shutdown will resume in the three sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong. Also, the threat to block NH-31 can lead to the disruptions of supplies to Sikkim.
The GJM���s indefinite strike in the hills from June 9 had virtually thrown life out of gear there. They had suspended the strike for 60 hours for helping tourists to move out of the region.
West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, on Saturday was ensured complete support for his government���s stand on the Darjeeling issue from two significant corners���the Centre and an unanimous Left Front.
The Left Front government of West Bengal has rejected the GJM���s demand for a separate state. The CPM, which has consistently opposed demands for statehood, has the backing of its Left Front allies���CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc���on the issue.
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At Saturday���s emergency meeting of the Left Front, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was entrusted the responsibility of taking a decision on it by the Left Front partners. They also stood by the chief minister���s decision not to call the GJM to an all-party meeting on June 17.
The GNLF, agitating on the same issue, was not called to such meetings even during the 80���s. At that time the Congress government at the Centre did not back the Left.
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