GJM to suspend replacement of WB with GL till tripartite talks

Siliguri, Oct 22 (UNI) The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) today announced that it would suspend the replacement of government signboards with 'Gorkhaland' and 'WB' with 'GL' on number plates of commercial vehicles in Darjeeling till the second round of tripartite talks in New Delhi scheduled in November.

GJM press and publicity secretary Benoy Tamang told newspersons that the outfit had taken the decision to stop replacing WB with GL on all commercial vehicles and government signboards after an assurance from West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi of raising their demands with the state government.

''We have decided to postpone this form of protest for the time being till the commencement of the second round of tripartite talks in November. The Governor has assured that he will take up the issue with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in Kolkata,'' Mr Tamang said.

''The Governor had appealed to us to suspend our agitation till the tripartite talks are held in order to maintain peace, law and order in the hill areas and the plains. However, we have decided to keep only commercial vehicles like taxis and trucks, carrying passengers and goods, out of the purview of this exercise. We will continue replacing WB with GL on private vehicles like motorcycles and cars,'' he added.

Earlier this evening, a GJM delegation, led by its president Bimal Gurung, met the Governor at the Raj Bhawan in Darjeeling and apprised him of their demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland.

Addressing a press conference in Darjeeling after meeting the Governor, Mr Gurung said, ''The CITU and other anti-GJM parties, affiliated to the CPI(M), are indulging in violence in the plains with the motive of instigating the GJM supporters to retaliate.'' MORE UNI XC-DPM SJC RR HS2047