Bimal Gurung seeks Centre's intervention for Gorkhaland

Siliguri, Jun 16 (UNI) Hours ahead of second phase strike, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president Bimal Gurung today sought intervention of the Centre for resolving the crisis in the Darjeeling Hills of West Bengal.

The GJM has called an indefinite bandh in Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong from 1800 hours demanding separate Gorkhaland state and the arrest of those involved in the violence in Siliguri last week.

''We Gorkhas in Darjeeling have lost confidence in the Left Front government. We now demand the intervention of New Delhi to resolve the crisis arising out of the democratic movement for separate state for Gorkhas in Darjeeling,'' Mr Gurung told UNI in a telephonic interview.

''How can we rely on a government that keeps its ears closed to every democratic demand and uses police and cadres to curb fundamental rights,'' the GJM president said, adding that they had lost confidence in the state government and demanded the Centre's direct intervention.

The latest offer from Mr Gurung came at a time when the state government called an all-party meeting in Kolkata tomorrow to discuss the Darjeeling issue.

The government has not invited the GJM in the meeting.

The Congress and all four Left Front partners would participate in the meeting whereas the Trinamool Congress is boycotting it to protest the government's decision not to call the GJM.

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