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KOLKATA: As the indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) entered its 10th day in the Darjeeling Hills on Friday, the outfit announced a four-day relaxation of the bandh from Saturday.
However, the ‘padayatra' programme of its supporters in the Dooars in the plains of north Bengal will continue.
“The decision to relax the bandh in the hills till February 22 follows an assurance from the Home Ministry that it will inform the GJM leadership by then about its views on the demand for the setting up of a joint verification committee before the coming Assembly polls in the State to determine the Gorkha-dominated pockets in the Terai and the Dooars regions,” Benoy Tamang, GJM additional general secretary, told The Hindu over telephone.
The GJM has been demanding a declaration from the Centre on the inclusion of the Gorkha-dominated pockets in the Dooars and Terai areas within the jurisdiction of any “interim” administrative arrangement that might be considered for the Darjeeling Hills as a step towards the creation of a separate State, which, it describes as “the ultimate solution” to the ongoing political impasse.
“The ‘padayatra' programme by our supporters from Sankosh through the Dooars to Kumani will continue,” Mr. Tamang added.
GJM supporters plan to congregate at Kumani near the border separating the Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts on February 27, where they will be addressed by GJM president Bimal Gurung.
However, the Jalpaiguri district administration is not allowing processions to Kumani fearing that it could result in an ethnic confrontation.
However, the ‘padayatra' programme of its supporters in the Dooars in the plains of north Bengal will continue.
“The decision to relax the bandh in the hills till February 22 follows an assurance from the Home Ministry that it will inform the GJM leadership by then about its views on the demand for the setting up of a joint verification committee before the coming Assembly polls in the State to determine the Gorkha-dominated pockets in the Terai and the Dooars regions,” Benoy Tamang, GJM additional general secretary, told The Hindu over telephone.
The GJM has been demanding a declaration from the Centre on the inclusion of the Gorkha-dominated pockets in the Dooars and Terai areas within the jurisdiction of any “interim” administrative arrangement that might be considered for the Darjeeling Hills as a step towards the creation of a separate State, which, it describes as “the ultimate solution” to the ongoing political impasse.
“The ‘padayatra' programme by our supporters from Sankosh through the Dooars to Kumani will continue,” Mr. Tamang added.
GJM supporters plan to congregate at Kumani near the border separating the Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts on February 27, where they will be addressed by GJM president Bimal Gurung.
However, the Jalpaiguri district administration is not allowing processions to Kumani fearing that it could result in an ethnic confrontation.
