Last year, the Hills witnessed a series of bandhs that paralysed life before the December 21 tripartite talks.

This time, the Vidyarthi Morcha called the bandh protesting against the government’s decision not to allow the Morcha to have a rally in Siliguri.

“For the last one month we have been demanding that the government allow us to hold a rally in Siliguri,” said Kismet Chettri, general secretary of the Morcha.

“The government’s refusal is arbitrary and against the spirit of democracy. We have called this bandh to press for the demand.”

Chhetri said the bandh was being called to urge the Centre to declare the next round of talks.

During the December 21 talks, it was decided that the Centre would announce the next date of talks within 45 days. The deadline elapsed on February 5, but the announcement is yet to come.

Union Home Secretary GK Pillai had told The Indian Express last week that the issue will be decided in the next meeting of Union cabinet committee on political affairs.