The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha called an indefinite strike in the northern West Bengal hill demanding a separate state of ‘Gorkhaland’ from Monday. But in a stern warning to GJM the Chief Minister of West Bengal said that the state government would not go for any compromise and deal with those who violated the law. She also accused Gorkha Janmukti Morcha that they have become politically bankrupt and that’s why they resorted to violence.
The GJM supporters raised slogans against the Chief Minister and accused the TMC (Trinamool Congress) government of trying to disrupt peace in northern West Bengal by its ‘divide and rule policy’. The chief of GJM and self-projected Chief Minister of hills Bimal Gurung had challenged Mamata Banerjee to stop the agitation in the hills. He also added that the state government takes so much revenue from them but it encroaches their territory, they want Gorkhaland and they will not negotiate on this matter. He assured that they will not do any violence and they will talk to the center as the state government is trying to suppress them for own political interest.
The GJM supporters has called the shutdown in government as well as GTA (Gorkhaland Territorial Administration) offices in the hills, throwing a virtual challenge to the TMC government as part of their demand for ‘Gorkhaland’. The shutdown almost stalled life in the hills this morning with most of the shops and markets remaining closed and vehicles off the roads. According to the state Tourism Minister Gautam Deb, the situation is peaceful here and everything is normal and claimed that attendance in the government office, GTA office and schools are also normal.
Meanwhile, the Army continued to patrol in the towns and three CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) companies were also camping in the towns. The Army staged a flag march in towns and there were no reports of fresh violence. A team of three senior IPS (Indian Police Service) officers has reached the hills to check the situation. The police already lodged cases against the GJM supporters including the chief of GJM on various counts including criminal conspiracy, arson, and incitement.
The unrest in the hills has affected thousands of tourists and many of them have stranded at various points of northern West Bengal’s including Darjeeling. The chief minister assured them that the government will help them in all possible ways and arrangements have made to help the tourists to return Siliguri from Darjeeling and they also arranged buses to carry them at free of cost.
The state government has warned all its employees that any absence from duty would be considered as a break in service and no salary will be admissible unless covered by reasonable grounds.
