GJM members to resign from GTA on Friday, burn GTA Accord copies

MP | 22 Jun 2017 11:26 PM | Darjeeling, With the Darjeeling impasse continuing and central intervention yet to see the light of day, the GJM-elected members of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration is likely to be tendering resignations from the GTA on Friday. Meanwhile, the Hill all party meeting slated for June 24 has been postponed to June 26.

"On Friday we will resign from GTA and on June 24, copies of the GTA Accord will be burnt as a symbolic mark of withdrawal from the GTA," stated a senior GJM leader.

Meanwhile, the police have started a suo moto case on GJM leaders including Bimal Gurung and his wife Asha Gurung charging them of murder of the three who had lost their lives recently in Darjeeling. Along with this, the leaders have also been charged with attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy.

"The Chief Minister and the police are responsible for the deaths of our cadres. Three people were killed in the police firing and they have named our leaders. Why should we kill our own cadres?" questioned Binay Tamang, assistant general secretary of GJM in a message to media. The Gorkhaland movement is all set to spill over to other parts of the country. Organisations agitating for creation of other states along with organisations of North-East have expressed solidarity with the Gorkhaland movement.

From June 23, rallies in support of Gorkhaland will be organised in Assam, Tripura and other places. Dharnas are also scheduled in Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

On June 24, Vidharba, Bundelkhand, Bodoland and Purvanchal will hold a joint press conference in Delhi. "Indigenous people's Front of Tripura and Gorkha Students union of Assam will hold rallies. Already leaders of Bodoland has extended their support for the Gorkhaland movement," said Monish Tamang, working president of National Federation for Small States.

Leaders and supporters of Bodoland are scheduled to visit Darjeeling on June 23 as a mark of solidarity.

Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha (GJYM), the students' wing of the GJM alleged that Hill students are unable to apply for college admissions online after the state government has shut down Internet services in the Hills. "This is the time when admissions are on in colleges. However, with the Internet blackout, Hill students have not been able to apply. It is clear violation of human rights," stated Anmol Thapa, central committee member of GJYM.

As the indefinite shutdown continued in the Hills, rallies were taken out by pro-Gorkhaland parties in different parts of the Hill.