GJMM in West Bengal goes to fast unto death against state government

Bagdogra, June 3 : Members of the Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha (GJMM) on Tuesday went on a fast unto death to protest denial of the government of West Bengal to allow them to hold public rally in Nakshalbari.

Eleven members of the community have joined the strike at Bagdogra area in Darjeeling district of the state.

"We are on a hunger strike to protest the disallowance of the West Bengal government to allow us hold public meeting at Nakshalbari on June 01. Why is the government not allowing us to organise a public meeting," said Kumar Gurung, an activist.

The community had sought permission from the state government to allow them to hold public meeting at Nakshalbari, which the government had denied for the sake of law and order situation in the state.

GJMM comprising about half a dozen parties, has been organizing protests over the past few months in the Darjeeling hills demanding action for a separate Gorkhaland state.

The group had revived the demand for Sixth schedule status while the GJMM, a breakaway faction of the GNLF, opposes it demanding full-fledged statehood.

The state government in West Bengal, under Communist rule has been resisting demands for a separate state for the Gorkhas.

ANI