Gorkhaland agitation to resume again by GJAC

GJAC meeting in progress Photo: Vinod Prakash Sharma

KalimNews, Darjeeling, 16 August 2013: For the first time all the political parties of Darjeeling hills have announced the Gorkhaland agitation strategy in unison. As follow up of the all-party meet in the Gymkhana Club of Darjeeling held on 12 August, today's meeting resolved and constituted Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee, a common platform for all the parties that announced its first agitational programme.

The committee announced a fresh five day agitation programme from August 19 'Ghar Bhitrai Janta' (people inside homes) in lieu of Public Curfew . Demanding the creation of a separate state Gorkhaland carving out from the state of West Bengal. 

The people of GTA area that includes all tea gardens willingly will stay at home from 19th to 23rd August in support of Gorkhaland, announced the GJAC. 

"We have decided to form the GJAC to step up the movement for a separate state of Gorkhaland. We have also chalked out plans for a week-long agitation and have requested people not to venture outdoors " JCAC chairman Enos Das Pradhan said.

Besides the GJM, the Communist Party of Revolutionary (Marxist), the All India Gorkha League, Hill BJP and the Hill Congress were among the parties which attended parleys at the Darjeeling Gymkhana Club convened by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

Confirming the same Bimal Gurung in his Facebook post said that from now on wards all programs will be announced by GJAC. 

On 24th and 25th torch rally will be organised at 5 pm while on 26th human chain programme will be organised in the State and national highways for two hours wearing black bands and carrying posters in support of Gorkhaland and condemning the attitude of the state government towards the Gorkhas. 

However, it insisted that it is still ready to hold talks with the West Bengal governor if an invitation is received from him. 

The meeting also reiterated that GTA is a failure and will be repelled very soon at an appropriate time.

The GJAC is formed with Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan as Chairman and Mr. J.B. Rai as Vice Chairman and Presidents and Secretaries of all parties as Executive member. 
It is meeting again on 18th August to chalk out the next course of action.