GJM chief writes to CM, shows interest in joining Darj meet
Bowing to pressure from the West Bengal Government, the Gorkha Janamukti Morch (GJM) president Bimal Gurung on Thursday emailed to the chief minister Mamata Banerjee evincing interest to solve the stalemate in the Darjeeling Hills. The move is being seen as an attempt to prevent GNLF from stealing the show.
The state government has already convened an all party meeting on August 29 to solve the Darjeeling Hills impasse. Bimal Gurunj’s letter is significant at this point, political observers said. Earlier Bimal Gurunj had refused to talk to the state government and announced that the GJM would only talk to the Union government. But a few days back another major political party in the Hills GNLF leadership requested the state government to convene an all party meeting to solve Darjeeling crisis.
Bimal Gurung who has been booked under UAPA by the police on charges of his alleged involvement in an explosion case in the Hills, on the 69 days of indefinite bandh in the Hills on Thursday urged the chief minister to solve the Darjeeling problem. In his letter, Bimal Gurung placed a five-point demand to the state government including restoration of food grain supply in the Hills and compensation to the relatives of those who were killed during the agitation. He also asked for withdrawal of cases against GJM supporters, restoration of internet and cable television services and a judicial inquiry into the police firing in the Hills during the Gorkhaland agitation. But it is not
Bimal Gurung placed a five-point demand to the state government including restoration of food grain supply in the Hills and compensation to the relatives of those who were killed during the agitation
still clear whether the GJM would participate in the all party meeting on August 29. Sources in the GJM said that the party would take its decision on Friday. Political observers said that to avoid arrest under UAPA, Bimal Gurunj wants to start a dialogue with the state government to show that his party like other major political parties in the Hills want peace to be restored in the region.
Two cases of grenade attacks were reported from the Hills during the last two days. The Gorkhaland supporters lobbed grenades in Sukhiapokhre market area last night in which a cop on duty was injured, some vehicles and property damaged.