With no confirmation from Centre, GJM to bank on all-party meet

MP | 19 Jun 2017 | Darjeeling: As the indefinite bandh in the Hills hit the 5th day, all eyes are fixed on the all party meeting scheduled to be held in Darjeeling on Tuesday. Pro-Gorkhaland parties and associations will be meeting in Darjeeling to chalk out the roadmap for a collective movement for the separate state demand.

With the Centre yet to respond to the GJM's appeal for intervention and the GJM unwilling to sit with the state government, there are not many options open for the GJM. Monday also saw Jan Andolan Party join the movement in Kalimpong.

"As this is a people's movement, we have decided to join in without our party flag. We will also send a representative to the all party meeting in Darjeeling on Tuesday where he will make our stand clear," stated Nayan Pradhan, JAP leader. JAP was floated by Harka Bahadur Chetri who left the GJM fold in 2016.

Meanwhile, the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad — a pan India organisation working for the upliftment of the tribals, has decided to check the GJM's agitation from spilling into Terai and Dooars in the plains. Incidentally, the GJM had called for a 12-hour bandh in Terai and Dooars on Sunday. "If they (GJM), try and enter our areas, there will be trouble. We are keeping a watch on the situation," said Birsa Tirkey, West Bengal state president Akhil Bhartiya Adivasi Bikas Morcha.

The day saw GJM supporters burning effigies of Mamata Banerjee throughout the Hills. Sporadic incidents of arson and vandalisms were also reported from all over Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.

Meanwhile, the GJM supporters blocked the National Highway 10. A truck was torched at Shetijhora on the National Highway 10, the link road to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. A petrol bomb was hurled at a vehicle at Kalijhora on the National Highway 10. Aniket Chettri, the driver of the vehicle hailing from Teesta Valley was injured. He was taken down to Siliguri for treatment.

GJM supporters stopped state buses carrying passengers, plying from Darjeeling to Siliguri on the Rohini Road at 1 pm. Till last reports came in, the buses were still detained.