Dooars leaders plan agitation

Vishwanath, the district magistrate of Kalimpong, speaks to Morcha supporters on Tuesday

TT, Jalpaiguri/Alipurduar, Aug. 8: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders in the Dooars have decided to meet the hill leadership to discuss the course of the Gorkhaland movement in the plains because of the possible backlash from the tribal populace.

Today, Morcha leaders in the Dooars held a meeting at a school in Chamurchi, located close to the Bhutan border, where they took some decisions but refused to divulge them. Sources, however, said some of the leaders would visit the hills tomorrow to consult with senior colleagues and central committee members, before they launch the movement.

"There is immense pressure on the Morcha supporters and leaders in both the Terai and the Dooars. This is because the party had held several political programmes during the earlier movements in 2007 and 2013," a source said.

The reason, he said, is because of the failure on the part of the Morcha to draw the Centre's attention to the issue.

"Also, our party president has called the tribal population of the plains to join our movement. In such a situation, the party leadership wants the movement to start in the Dooars in a similar manner like the hills. But we need to weigh the pros and cons as its doubtful whether we will be allowed to hold rallies and demonstrations," the source said.

The leaders from both the Dooars and the Terai have, however, already passed a clear message to the central Morcha leadership that it is not possible for them to call an indefinite strike or start demonstrations in front of government offices.

"The mood of the administration and the police are pretty clear. They will not allow any such gatherings," a Morcha leader said.

So, he said, it is necessary to speak on these constraints with central leaders before they launch the agitation in the Dooars.