GJM to attend talks with the State Government

Darjeeling, August 25, 2017: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has stated that she has not received any letter from Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Chief Bimal Gurung but has stated that the State Government has received a letter from GJM Chief Coordinator Binay
Tamang. She stated that the GJM will be attending the all Hill party talks called by the State Government on August 29 at Nabannya, the State Secretary in Howrah.

According to a letter circulated by the GJM amongst media persons Gurung who has recently gone incommunicado had shot a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee requesting the CM to initiate a political dialogue on Gorkhaland to help resolve the present crisis of Darjeeling.

The letter dated August 22 (which General Secretary Roshan Giri claimed was dispatched on 23rd evening) presented a charter of demands including withdrawal of all cases old and new filed against agitators and release of those detained during agitation. Gurung recently has been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the Darjeeling and Kalimpong blasts.

The letter demanded a CBI or Judicial inquiry into the deaths caused due to police action and compensation to the family of the victims; Restoration of supplies of food and essential commodities; Withdrawal of all cases old and new filed against agitators and release of those detained during agitation; Ensure restoration of internet, cable TV
and local TV channels along with provide to all those families whose kin have been killed in police firing and also compensation for those who have been injured.

"I would like to appeal to you that that the State Government must take appropriate measures to address all related issues including the present crisis on a permanent basis and ensure that normalcy returns to Darjeeling so that people of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Siliguri, Terai and Dooars can get their rightful due," stated the letter.

The letter claimed that despite the shortage of food, vegetables and essential commodities, people are willing to continue with the bandh till the Gorkhaland demand is fulfilled. Incidentally an indefinite bandh has been clamped in Darjeeling since June 15.

The letter stated that the two failed Councils in Darjeeling namely the DGHC and GTA should pave way to "learn" from previous mistakes that "experimental models" to temporarily curb people's aspiration for separation from West Bengal has not worked in the past nor present.

The GJM had organised a rally in Kurseong on Thursday. "We will be attending the meeting called by the CM. On Friday there will be a GJM meeting to chalk out the strategy that GJM will adopt in the Kolkata meet" stated DK Pradhan, Central committee member, GJM.

The Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee (A conglomeration of 14 pro- Gorkhaland outfits) has a meeting in Kalimpong on Friday to chalk out their strategy regarding the State Government meeting in Kolkata on August 29.

Meanwhile there were reports of a blast in Lodhama, 37 km from Darjeeling, in the wee hours of Thursday. A police source stated that at around 1pm there was a low intensity blast on the Link Road.

The blast site is around 700m above the Lodhama police station. There was no reports of any loss of life or injury. Incidentally there have been blasts at the motor stand in Darjeeling, police station in Kalimpong and the police station at Sukhiapokhari.

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