press trust of india
Darjeeling (WB), August 14: The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) Monday asked its youth wing to call off its 25-day-old indefinite hunger strike over separate Gorkhaland demand following an appeal by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
The indefinite shutdown, which entered its 61st day Monday, will, however, continue in the hills. The ruling Trinamool Congress welcomed the move but said the GJM must ensure “proper atmosphere” for talks.
GJM supremo Bimal Gurung in a statement said, “Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh yesterday held a meeting with GJM leaders as well as some of the representatives of GMCC (in Delhi). The members of the delegation, especially the GJM gave their viewpoint that nothing short of creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland can help the people of the Darjeeling hills, Dooars and Terai achieve their dreams.
“Given that tomorrow is Independence Day, I am also of view that the home minister’s appeal should be respected and the hunger strike by Yuva Morcha should be withdrawn as the first step to achieving our goal of Gorkhaland. I therefore direct the Yuva Morcha to call off the hunger strike on the eve of Independence Day,” he said.
Twelve GJM youth wing activists started the fast-unto- death at Kurseong, Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Sonada on July 21 over the Gorkhaland demand. A senior Darjeeling district official said that doctors have been monitoring the health condition of the activists on a regular basis and they would be taken to hospital for check-up after the strike is called off.
GJM assistant secretary Binay Tamang said that the party has decided that there will be no picketing by its activists at various checkpoints from 6 am to 6 pm on August 15 though the indefinite shutdown will continue in the hills. Senior TMC leader and minister Gautam Deb when asked whether the state government will now call the GJM for talks, said, “We had called them for talks earlier but they did not attend. So we feel that peace and proper atmosphere should prevail for initiation of talks.”
