GJM sets April 30 deadline for Silliguri rally

The state government had earlier denied permission to hold a rally at Baghajatin Park in Siliguri following the growing tension there.

The GJM leader today, however, said that if their demand were not met by April 30 they would go for an indefinite hunger strike in Darjeeling district from May 1.

The party today said that their scheduled April 28 office bandh would be postponed to May 5 so that people could draw their salaries.

GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told The Indian Express over phone from Darjeeling that his party has given the state government the options of granting them permission to hold the rally on either April 28, 29 or 30.

“If we don’t get permission, the hunger strike will be launched in Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Mirik, Siliguri and the Dooars from May 1 onwards. Eleven people in each place would begin the hunger strike,” Giri said.

He added that the mode of the strike is yet to be decided. “We’ll take the decision as to whether it should be a relay hunger strike or a fast-unto-death.

The GJM leaders will meet Jailpaiguri Divisional Commissioner B L Meena on Monday at the Siliguri Circuit House.

“We hope something positive will emerge from it,” he added.

The government offices in three hill sub-divisions remained closed from April 15 to protest against the April 9 incident when police lathicharged Gorkha ex-servicemen in Darjeeling.

On April 25, a seven-member GJM delegation walked out of a meeting with the state home secretary Ashok Mohan and DGP A Vora after they were refused permission to hold the rally.

The senior officials were in Siliguri to review law and order in North Bengal in view of next month’s panchayat polls.