Gorkha Janamukti Morcha’s Bimal Gurung calls off Darjeeling Hills strike to help Sept 12 talks

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday welcomed the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM ) leader Binay Tamang’s announcement to suspend the indefinite bandh in Darjeeling hills till the next round of talks with the state government. “It’s good news. We want restoration of peace and want the well-being of the people there (in Darjeeling),”

Banerjee told reporters at the secretariat today. She was speaking after GJM convenor Tamang said in Darjeeling that the GJM has put off its indefinite bandh from tomorrow till the next round of talks with the West Bengal government on September 12. GJM general secretary Roshan Giri, however, said the bandh will continue. The indefinite shutdown in the hills to press for a separate Gorkhaland state, which entered its 78th day today.

On one hand it seems that Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders have softened their stand and ready to talk, but ion the other it appears to be different story.

Now it appears, shortly after Bimal Gurung announced withdrawal of the ongoing indefinite shutdown in the north Bengal hills for 12 days, some top leaders of the party claimed otherwise.

According to sources close to the GJM, some central committee members held a meeting in Kurseong and decided to withdraw the ongoing shutdown from September 1 to September 12.

Party joint secretary Binay Tamang, who convened the meeting, could not be contacted even after several attempts. However, denying such a move, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri claimed the shutdown would continue and said the party chief Bimal Gurung has not taken any decision to withdraw it.

“Bimal Gurung said the shutdown has not been withdrawn,” Giri said in a message. “The shutdown is going to continue. We will later decide whether the party would participate in the state government sponsored all party meeting on September 12. The news about withdrawing the shutdown is incorrect,” Giri claimed.

Tamang led a five-member party delegation at the state government sponsored all-party meeting along with other major hill parties in Kolkata on August 29 and claimed that the peace and normalcy in the hills should be restored immediately. Normal life has been paralysed since June 12 due to the indefinite shutdown called by the GJM. -PTI