Mamata Banerjee's 72-hour ultimatum to GJM on Darjeeling shutdown

KOLKATA: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday warned stern action against the agitating Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) leadership if the indefinite bandh in Darjeeling was not withdrawn within 72 hours (Monday). "The GJM is holding bandhs in Darjeeling for the past eight days. Enough is enough. I am giving the GJM 72-hour time to lift the bandh and hold talks with our government. If the GJM refuses to withdraw their bandhs within 72 hours, our government will be forced to take stern action against them," the chief minister told reporters at Writers' Buildings on Saturday.

"I have some constitutional obligations to abide by and the Calcutta High Court has also given a clear order to restore normalcy in Darjeeling. I will have to implement the high court's order. They (GJM) are forcing the business establishments to keep their shutters down, forcing school and government officials to keep the establishments closed. I have bear with the GJM for eight days and I though that good senses would prevail upon them and they will withdraw the bandh. But I am now sorry to say that we will take stern action if bandhs in Darjeeling is not withdrawn within 72 hours. Today is Saturday and the GJM will get time till Monday to lift the bandhs in Darjeeling. If the bandhs are not withdrawn by Monday, stern action will be taken by my government from Tuesday," the chief minister warned the agitating GJM.

She also said that her government was ready to hold talks with the GJM only after bandhs in Darjeeling were withdrawn. "I also appeal to them (GJM) to end their bandh in the interests of common people and for the interests of the development of Darjeeling which has started after the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) had taken charges of the Hills. I also urged the Centre not to interfere in the state's subject and allow the state government to settle the Darjeeling impasse amicably," Mamata said.

The chief minister also said that "Independence Day will be observed throughout the nation and I urge the agitating Gorkha leaders to clear all the roads and maintain peace and normalcy before August 15. Our government will not tolerate wildcat bandhs and strikes. I have been told that the agitating GJM is distributing ration to the people of Darjeeling. I know from where they are getting the money to run a parallel rationing system."

Without naming the GJM leader Bimal Gurung who has resigned from the post of the chief executive officer (CEO) of the GTA, the chief minister said the next responsible person should take charge of the GTA to run the ongoing development in the Hills.