Ghisingh resigns; GJM calls off agitation

Kolkata, Feb 29 (UNI) The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha(GJM) today called off its indefinite agitation in Darjeeling as DGHC administrator Subash Ghisingh decided to step down.

The decision came a day after the Parliamentary Standing Committee proposed to the Union Home Ministry to reassess the Darjeeling situation holding back the proposal for imposing provisions of the sixth schedule.

'' We are withdrawing the indefinite general and hunger strike in the Darjeeling hills from 1700 hrs today. It is our initial victory that Mr Ghisingh is going to resign and the sixth schedule proposal has been thrown into the dust bin,'' GJM President Bimal Gurung told a press conference couple of hours after a meeting with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

The Chief Minister, in a statement had appealed to the GJM to call off its strike and restore normalcy in the hills in view of the current developments.

'' Mr Ghisingh, the administrator of DGHC, has said he will resign in the next ten days,'' he said in the statement.

Mr Bhattacharjee said yesterday the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home which was dealing with the issue of sixth schedule in Darjeeling, placed its report to Parliament proposing a reassessment of the situation by the Home Ministry.

'' In view of the current developments, I would urge all concerned to call off the agitation and the hunger strike and help restore normal condition,'' the statement said.

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