6 of JAP's youth wing sit on hunger strike

Amitava Banerjee | MP |25 May 2017 | Darjeeling: The Jan Andolan Party (JAP) has decided to make the Gorkha Janmmukti Morcha taste their own medicine. Six members of the Yuva Ekai (youth wing of JAP) have started an indefinite hunger strike demanding clarification on the Morcha's stand and sincerity towards the separate state of Gorkhaland demand.

Despite the Morcha winning seven elections, including the recently-concluded civic polls in the Hills (except Mirik) on the Gorkhaland plank, the separate state aspiration is a far cry, feels the JAP.

Six youth leaders of JAP are sitting on an indefinite hunger strike at Trikon Park in Kalimpong. In a letter to Bimal Gurung, president of GJM, the JAP has asked him that despite getting a clear mandate for Gorkhaland through seven elections, what has Gurung and his party done in this regard and what is the status of Gorkhaland? How many Members of Parliament have assured support to Gorkhaland? Has the NDA passed a resolution to table a "Gorkhaland Bill?" as the GJM is an ally of the NDA.

"The GJM wins elections on the Gorkhaland plank hence Gorkhaland has the mandate. Even after getting the mandate, the GJM leaders continue occupying posts under the Bengal government setup," stated Amir Basnet, Secretary of Yuva Ekai.

"We demand immediate withdrawal of all elected posts under the Bengal government. Snap all ties with Bengal and show your sincerity towards Gorkhaland," challenged the letter to Gurung.

JAP has further asked Gurung and his party to exert pressure on the BJP MP from Darjeeling S S Ahluwalia to table a Gorkhaland Bill in Parliament in the forthcoming Monsoon Session. Incidentally, backed by the GJM, Ahluwalia had won from the Darjeeling Parliamentary constituency riding piggyback on the Gorkhaland demand.

"Our MP being a senior BJP leader as well as a minister, he should bring a consensus amongst MPs from BJP and the NDA for Gorkhaland," stated the letter.