GJM gives up mellow stance, says indefinite stir to continue
DARJEELING : The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) went back to its belligerent ways on Thursday when party president Bimal Gurung said the shutdown for a new state would continue “indefinitely” until those arrested were released and the cases against them withdrawn.
“We had earlier announced a relaxation of the bandh on August 24 and 25. The relaxation stands cancelled. As long as the West Bengal government’s conspiracy continues, the bandh too will continue ... We are ready to face Bengal’s challenge,” Gurung said at a public rally.
“The more than 700 GJM leaders and supporters who have been arrested will sit on a fast unto death in judicial custody from today (Thursday). Our agitation is peaceful and democratic. Let them arrest us, use the central forces, use bullets (and) we will still win. People’s aspirations cannot be crushed by force.”
GJM MLA Trilok Dewan said the creation of Gorkhaland was not impossible.
“The UPA government is for the creation of Gorkhaland but they have not been able to come out in the open with this owing to political constraints.”
This comes after the arrest of GJM central committee member Binay Tamang on Wednesday night.
“We arrested Tamang along with five other GJM leaders at the Sikkim border on Wednesday night,” said Kunal Agarwal, superintendent of police, Darjeeling. BODO STUDENTS GO ON HUNGER STRIKE GUWAHATI : The All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) started an indefinite hunger strike in Assam on Thursday to press their demand for separate Bodoland state.
“Our movement is democratic. Thousands of our supporters will join the hunger strike,” said ABSU president Pramod Boro.
ABSU said if the date for tripartite talks on separate Bodoland state would not announced then they would intensify their movement by blocking the national highway on August 28 train services on September 10.
The Telangana declaration last month spurred various statehood demands across the country, of which three — Bodoland, Kamatapur and Karbi Anglong — have since rocked Assam.