GJM calls public curfew on 13 & 14 - all party meeting on 11 August

KalimNews: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has called Public curfew on 13th and 14th August. It has declared that nobody will come out of their houses on these two days.  GJM has stated that this is to show the state government that all public of the hills demand the creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland and they will defy Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee' s dictat.

In response to the high court order it has stated the followings in the BImal Gurung Official page of facebook. It has said " We have today received a copy of the order of the Hon'ble High Court passed against the State of West Bengal in Rama Prasad Sarkar vs. State of West Bengal tagging us as respondents which was passed without service of notice to us. 

Despite the fact that the order was passed without service of notice to us and we were therefore unaware of the petitioner's contentions, we greatly respect the order of the Honb'le High Court and will comply with it. 

We understand that the Hon'ble High Court has stated that that Bandhs are illegal if force or intimidation is made, or if there is interference with road and rail traffic or free movement of the citizens. 

The 72 hour deadline set by the Government is not their deadline but it is the court’s deadline. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha respects the court orders and will comply it. In particular, we have taken note of the directions issued by the Hon'ble High court in page 6 paras1 - 6 which we will respectfully honour. 

We also appreciate that the court has referred to a number of earlier Supreme Court decisions as precedence and has quoted, from them as follows: "It is argued that the Court cannot restrict the freedom of the political parties to call for a general protest and any restriction placed thereon would be violative of the fundamental rights of those who compose the political party, their freedom of expression, speech and to assemble peacefully. 

It may be true that the political parties and organisers may have a right to call for non-co operation or to call for a general strike as a form of protest against what they believe to be either an erroneous policy or exploitation. But when exercise of such a right interacts the fundamental right of another citizen who is equally entitled to exercise his rights, the question is whether the right of the political party extends to right of violating the right of another citizen."

The 72 hour deadline set by the Government is not their deadline but it is the court’s deadline requiring the State to respond and file a report. We reiterate that the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha respects the court orders and will comply it. The Morcha will use no force or picketing in the forthcoming programmes in Darjeeling. There will be no picketing in Government Offices, Schools and Colleges. The Morcha will use no use of force or intimidation for interference with road and rail traffic or free movement of the citizens. 

Morcha will ensure that all public transports including the State vehicles run smoothly in the District of Darjeeling during Bandh. Essential services like telephone, tele-communication, water supply, milk distribution, power supply, fire services, newspapers, hospitals and other government offices will not be interfered with by GJM supporters. 

However, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in keeping with the highest democratic traditions, the GJM supporters will continue to exercise their freedom of expression, speech and their right to assemble peacefully without arms to press for their demand for Gorkhaland. No force, intimidation or coercion of any sort, whether express or implied will be applied and any closures will be voluntarily. We shall demonstrate our mandate for the expression for the demand for Gorkhaland which the people will show voluntarily."

Meanwhile GJM has called an all party meeting on 11th August in Darjeeling. The meeting will be held in Gymkhana Club at 11 am.  All parties including GNLF, CPRM, AIGL, Congress, Hill Congress, Hill TMC, CPIM Rashtriya Congress, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh are invited in the meeting.

According to the police source another GJM leader from Kalimpong is arrested last night. Kalimpong GJM core committee member Shekhar Sharma was arrested on Saturday night in connection with cases registered against him, Kalimpong Additional Superintendent of Police Songmit Lepcha said. Police said Sharma, who was absconding, was arrested last night following a tip off.

Four more GJM youth leaders were arrested by police and CRPF today from Kurseong, taking the number of those in police custody to 172, police said.

The four have been identified as Sumit Deep, Suman Lama, Abhishek Gurung, Lawang Gurung.

They allegedly had set fire to government property, picket on highways and were threatening people, police said.

Police have already arrested GJM Darjeeling town committee president Narayan Pradhan and Gorkha Territorial Administration council member Mahendra Pradhan.

Anit Thapa, a close aide of GJM chief Bimal Gurung, is also behind bars.