Darjeeling shutdown: Maoist splinter group in Nepal protests India’s “repression”

HT, 26 June 2017, Kathamandu: A small splinter group of Nepal’s Maoist party on Monday held a demonstration in front of the Indian embassy in Kathmandu against what it called the “repression” of the Nepali-speaking people of Darjeeling.

The group, led by Netra Bikram Chand, had split from the Maoist party three years ago and is propping up a nationalist agenda.

The small group of agitators alleged human rights violation in Darjeeling by India.

In a statement, the group said “killing” of Nepali-speaking people “is a matter of concern for us.”

It hoped Indian government “will respect the human rights of the people living in Darjeeling and who have been demanding Gorkhaland.”

Central Committee member of the party, Dharmendra Bastola, who is also in charge of its international department, accused the Indian government for repression in Darjeeling because they are Nepali- speaking people.

The group also submitted a memo addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi “to respect the voice of people of Darjeeling and respect the human rights of the people who are agitating for their rights.”

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), spearheading an agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland, is holding an indefinite shutdown in the Darjeeling hills.