The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) has reiterated its stand that it will begin collecting all taxes from the residents of the Hills from March 7 onwards as part of its non-cooperation movement.

Considering the elections, however, citizens will be allowed to pay their vehicle tax to the district administration, senior GJM leaders said on Friday.

“Till now, people were not paying any taxes to the government following our call. But March 7 onwards, they will pay the taxes to us,” Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said.

“We are working out the modalities and will announce these in a few days,” he added.

It is also reported that the state government is considering withdrawal of government services in Darjeeling from March 7.

Commenting on the issue, State Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakrabarti told The Indian Express that no time frame has been fixed for the move, but lack of revenue may eventually force the administration to withdraw government services from the Hills.

“How can the government function without revenue? If people don’t pay taxes, electricity and telephone bills, how can the services be sustained? Ultimately, they will have to be discontinued,” Chakrabarti said.

A group of high-level GJM leaders, meanwhile, are back after a trip to Lalgarh, where tribals have been up in arms against alleged excesses by the state police following the attack on the chief minister’s convoy by suspected Maoists in November last year.

Since mid-January, the Morcha has been trying hard to get approval of tribal leaders for the inclusion of Dooars and Terai region of Jalpaiguri district in the proposed Gorkhaland state.

“We had a successful meeting with tribals in Lalgarh. In fact, tribal leader Chattradhar Mahato has declared full support for Gorkhaland, which includes the Dooars,” Giri said.