Easter pushes back hill strike

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, March 24: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today postponed a 12-hour general strike from April 2 to April 10 in Darjeeling as it could inconvenience the Christian community before Easter which is on April 5.

A March 28 public meeting has also been postponed for the ongoing higher secondary exams that will end on March 31.

The strike was called on March 14 to protest the state's alleged interference in appointing para-teachers on contract for teaching Lepcha in 46 hill schools.

The Morcha had said the recruitment should have been done by the GTA, not the Darjeeling district magistrate, as education is a department that was transferred to the hill body under the GTA Act.

Morcha chief Bimal Gurung today said: "We have decided to postpone the strike as it coincides with Easter and we need to honour the sentiments of the Christian community. The March 28 public meeting is also being postponed for the higher secondary examinations."

The state had formed a selection committee headed by the Darjeeling district magistrate for recruiting para-teachers.

The district magistrate's office started the recruitment process on February 20.

Interviews are scheduled for March 25 and the results are to be declared two days later. But the Morcha moved Calcutta High Court, challenging the government's move to recruit the para-teachers. Sources said the case may come up for hearing tomorrow.

GTA principal secretary

Ravi Inder Singh on Tuesday joined as the principal secretary of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration after Bimal Gurung, who is the chief executive of the GTA, accepted his name despite initial opposition.