GJM leaders eye tripartite meet to call off stir

Deep Gazmer, TNN | Jun 3, 2013, DARJEELING: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha(GJM) leadership is banking on Monday'stripartite review meeting in Darjeeling and hoping that something positive would surface, in order to call off their ongoing hunger strike. 

Since the patch-up with the state government after the January 29 fiasco, the GJM had again taken the agitation path after one of their leaders from Kalimpong was arrested in an arson case. 

They had initially called an indefinite strike but later called it off to announce a fast-till-death from May 26. GTA members first courted arrest and then started a hunger strike. 

However, while announcing the hunger strike, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri failed to mention the release of party leader Chandra Yonzon, who was arrested, but instead led out a charter of different wish list. 

GJM has demanded withdrawal of police cases against party leaders during the four years of agitation for separate state, curbing alleged police atrocities, allowing the GTA to function independently and mandatory field visits by the fact finding committee set up to look into the demand of inclusion of mouzas of the Terai and Dooars in the new council. 

On the eve of the review meeting, Giri said, "We have lined up a number of issues that we will raise in tomorrow's meeting with the state and central representatives. We are hoping of a positive outcome". 

Home secretary Basudeb Banerjee will stand in for the state government and S. Skandan, the additional secretary of the union home department will represent the Centre. government, while, Giri and Trilok Dewan, Darjeeling MLA and principal advisor to the GTA will represent the GJM party. 

According to the GJM general secretary other important issues such granting of tribal status to all Gorkhas except those already in the scheduled caste category and incorporating youths from the GTA area in the paramilitary forces, army and the police will also feature in tomorrow's meeting. 

"We will also speak on the issue of withdrawal of pending police and court cases against some of our leaders and supporters. In the last review meeting on December 26, 2012 it had been agreed upon that the government would withdraw the 150 court cases pending against some of the people here for cases registered during the four years agitation period within ten days of the meeting but it has not been implemented as yet," Giri pointed out, adding that full transfer of departments to the GTA would also be taken up.