Darjeeling people remain indoors as part of 'Janta curfew'

Roshan Sawa, Republica, KATHMANDU, Aug 13 : Darjeeling hills in India, which has remained shut down for 9th consecutive day due to the indefinite strike called by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) demanding a separate state, wore a deserted look as people remained indoors on Monday. 

Defying the ultimatum issued by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on 10 August asking GJM to call off its indefinite bandh in Darjeeling within 72 hours, JGM announced a new form of two-day protest called “janta curfew” (people´s curfew) with people voluntarily remaining indoors. 

The “janta curfew” has also received support from other Darjeeling based political parties, including Revolutionary Marxist Communist party(RMCP), All Indian Gorkha League(AIGL), Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, Gorkhaland Rajya Nirman Morcha, Gorkhaland Taskforce, Hill Congress and BJP. 

No people were seen on the streets on Tuesday. Pharmaceutical shops were open but no customers were seen. Only security personnel patrolling the area and media persons were seen in the marketplace. 

GJM´s had started protests nine days ago, but RMCP joined the protest last Thursday. Other local parties have decided to join the protest only after the all-party meeting on coming Friday. They are of the opinion that they still cannot fully trust GJM even though they support the cause of separate Gorkhaland state. 

“We are in no position to trust GJM fully. After dialogues with GJM, we will decided the nature of protests,” Laxman Pradhan, the vice chair of AIGL said. 

GJM has also informed that the strike would be called off for the four days starting Thursday for the Independence Day celebrations. Roshan Giri, the general secretary of GJM, said new schedule of the protests would be made pubic after a meeting on Friday. 

According to GJM, over 200 activists and leaders have so far been arrested. GTA representative Kalayan Dewan and Anit Thapa are among the arrested. (Courtesy source:  http://www.myrepublica.com)