Strike in Darjeeling to be partially relaxed during Eid
SILIGURI: The indefinite strike called by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in the hills of Darjeeling entered the 11th day on Sunday, with the party showing no signs of retreat.
However, the GJM leadership has relaxed the strike from 6am to 6pm on Monday for Eid.
“Personal vehicles of the people from the Muslim community will be allowed on the streets so that they can go to mosques or visit the houses of their relatives,” said a GJM spokesman.
Activists from all hill-based political groups took out a massive rally in the hills on Sunday. Although no major event of violence was reported, a police vehicle was set on fire by agitators at Marung in Kalimpong district.
Confirming the development, Kalimpong district police superintendent Ajit Yadav said before setting the vehicle on fire, the strikers had also beaten up its driver severely. However, no arrests were made.
The GJM spokesperson said copies of GTA accord will be burnt in the hills on June 27 to mark a token protest against the state government and show support for Gorkhaland.
The GJM also organised a cultural programme where local singers performed, demanding a separate statehood.
Meanwhile, BJP’s national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, who is in charge of the party’s affairs in West Bengal, said though BJP does not support the demand for separate Gorkhaland state, he feels that irresponsible behaviour on part of the state government has snowballed into the current crisis.