Unrest again in Darjeeling over separate Gorkhaland
Kolkata Correspondent, June 14, 2017
The government has taken a stern stance against the strike, with about 90 thousand personnel of the police and paramilitary forces deployed on ground
Darjeeling faces unrest as the tussle between the West Bengal government and the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) has once again revived the demand for a separate Gorkha state. GJM has called an indefinite strike or
bandh from Monday.
The government has taken a stern stance against the strike, with about 90 thousand personnel of the police and paramilitary forces deployed on ground. So far four companies of troops have been stationed in Darjeeling. The central interior ministry on Tuesday (13 June) declared that it would be sending in another six companies. Two companies will comprise women soldiers.
The interior ministry has asked the West Bengal government for an explanation as to why peaceful Darjeeling has suddenly become a hotbed of protest. Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee has held a meeting with the state’s DG of police and home secretary Malay De.
The Chief Minister on Tuesday said that peace reigned in the hills, but at an all-party meeting held at the Darjeeling Gymkhana on the very same day, six political parties declared the formation of a joint platform to step up the movement for a separate Gorkhaland.
Five political parties took part in the all-party meeting called by GJM on Tuesday, 13 June. It was decided that the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists (CPRM), Gorkha Rastriya Nirman Mancha, Bharatiya Gorkha Parishad and Bharatiya Janata Party would join the united platform.
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‘Gorkhaland’ movement Intensifies: GJM begins indefinite strike
The strike this time has also called for a shutdown of government establishments and banks in the hill region. Only schools, colleges, transport and business establishments have been exempted from the strike. The banks will be allowed to open two days a week.
Led by Bimal Gurung, GJM has called for the strike in demand of a separate Gorkhaland state and also to protest against the government decision to make teaching Bengali compulsory in all Darjeeling schools.
GJM president Bimal Gurung has said that they have submitted a letter to the Indian government, demanding a separate Gorkha state. The party has chosen to take up direct confrontation in order to thwart Trinamool Congress’ presence in the hills. In the recent civic elections, Trinamool won in Mirik. Mamata’s party also fared well in Kalimpong and Kurseong. GJM leaders are alarmed at the manner in which Trinamool Congress have set firm foot in their stronghold.
The term of the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) term is nearing its end. The new GTA will be formed through elections. In the meantime, Chef Minister Mamata Banerjee has ordered an audit of GTA. She has also delivered a message to the GJM head Bimal Garung, saying that she will no longer tolerate the looting and pilfering. She is no longer willing to compromise with GJM.
The GTA office has been shut down. Stern measures have been taken at an administrative level too. Two days ago, when Darjeeling police super Amit Javalgi failed to control GJM’s violent agitation, he was transferred from there and replaced by Akhilesh Chaturvedi. The ICs of Kalimpong and Kurseong were also transferred.
On Saturday, the state’s principal secretary Basudev Banerjee met with the West Bengal police DG Surajit Kar Purakayastha and other senior officials. It was decided to take firm measures to bring the situation under control. Mamata feels that political vengeance is behind the unrest in the hills. She has said that enough is enough. There will be no more compromise. It is for the people to decide what has been done over the past five years. In the meantime, we will not tolerate any underhand politics.
http://southasianmonitor.com/2017/06/14/unrest-darjeeling-separate-gorkhaland/