Students in dilemma over bandh situation- scared parents undecided on sending their wards back

SNS, Kurseong, 13 August 2013: Even though the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) has finally given a four-day relief from the indefinite Darjeeling Hills Bandh from 15 to 18 August, the parents of the boarding students who are studying here are in a dilemma as to what step would be best in their ward(s) interest in the midst of the Gorkhaland agitation. 

The GJMM has decided to give a four-day respite starting from 15 to 18 August from the ongoing indefinite Darjeeling Hills bandh that has been in continuity from 3 August. 

The indefinite bandh in demand of separate statehood of Gorkhaland has reached its eleventh day today and was to be lifted on the occasion of Independence Day on 15 August. 

Even while the agitation has dragged on, the GJMM has called for a “Janta Curfew” for two days on 13 and 14 August in response to the State Chief Minister Miss Mamata Banerjee’s call to lift the bandh in 72 hours. 

In the midst of the political turmoil and tension that has gripped Darjeeling Hills, many parents who had enrolled their children here for their education in various schools dotting Darjeeling Hills are now in a deep predicament whether to take them home or leave them under the guardianship of the school authorities. 

Yet, many of those parents who had been able to take their children back to their places after the call given by the GJMM Chief Mr Bimal Gurung to send all boarding students home are also bewildered whether to send them back to school once again during the four-day break. 

One parent who had taken her ward home on 2 August just before the start of the indefinite bandh said that she is now more confused than ever since she does not know if she may decide to send her child back to school as the dominant GJMM party has given a four-day break from the ongoing bandh. 

She further said that if she could send her child back to school than what will happen in the Hills again once the four days of relief from the indefinite bandh is over? 

The GJMM General Secretary, Mr Roshan Giri, said that like other institutions, relaxations have also been given to all the schools between 15 to 18 August. 

Regarding what will happen to the students after 18 August, he said that an all party meeting has been convened on 16 August, in which the issue of the schools and students might be discussed in the meeting.