GJM blockade to demand separate state begins in Hills

Express news service Posted: Feb 13, 2008 at 0223 hrs
Kolkata, February 12 The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), a breakaway faction of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), stopped government establishments from functioning in the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council area on Tuesday to press their demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland.

The GJM has said their protests will continue for an indefinite period instead of its earlier decision to hold a 48-hour blockade in the hilly districts of West Bengal.

Bimal Gurung, a GJM leader, has opposed the proposed inclusion of the DGHC under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and has demanded removal of GNLF supremo and his former mentor Subash Ghisingh from the post of the administrator of the DGHC.

The GJM agitators held demonstrations at Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong sub-divisions and demanded that the term of the DGHC’s caretaker chairman Subash Ghisingh that is scheduled to expire on March 23, should not be extended.

A total of 63 GJM activists are already on an indefinite hunger strike since February 7 at the sub-divisional office at Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.

Jayanta Pal, Additional Superintendent of Police of Darjeeling, said: “The employees of DGHC and other government offices did not attend office. However, normal life in these three sub-divisions remained normal and peaceful.”

Ghisingh, could not be contacted as he was away in New Delhi on an official visit.

The leaders of the GJM claimed that people of the three sub-divisions supported the party’s cause for a separate state of Gorkhaland.

Gurung formed GJM on October 7, 2007 after breaking away from the parent party, GNLF.

He is expected to meet the state chief secretary at Writers’ Buildings on Wednesday to discuss the prevailing situation in the Hills.