Morcha fissures widen

Clear differences and factionalism came to the fore through different announcements by the GJM party on Wednesday.

Darjeeling, August 30: Fissures in the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) grew wider with a public meeting being announced in Kurseong on Thursday where GJM leaders attending the Kolkata talks are expected to address.

Clear differences and factionalism came to the fore through different announcements by the GJM party on Wednesday.

The 5 member GJM delegation led by GJM Chief Coordinator Binay Tamang that had taken part in the meeting called by the State Government in Nabannya, the West Bengal Secretariat on Tuesday will be returning to the Hills on Thursday.

Sources state that a large number of GJM supporters will be present at the Bagdogra Airport to receive the team.

"The leaders will address a public meeting in Kurseong on Thursday. They will apprise the masses about the Kolkata talks" stated Kishore Thapa, GJM leader from Kurseong.

A GJM public meeting and addresses by the GJM team is being seen as a clear defiance of Gurung's diktats, by political pundits. Bimal Gurung in an audio clip sent to media persons on Tuesday evening had declared that the indefinite bandh will continue till the Gorkhaland issue is not discussed in a Government meeting.

Interestingly Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had categorically stated that matters pertaining to the formation of Gorkhaland is not within the jurisdiction of the State Government. She instead had appealed for restoration of peace and normality in the Hills by lifting the bandh.

Binay Tamang talking to media persons in Kolkata had stated that all the parties had agreed unanimously that peace and normality needs to be restored in the Hills. Regarding the lifting of the indefinite bandh, Tamang had stated that on return to the Hills the team would sit in meeting with the GJM Central Committee members, the Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee and the public to decide on the fate of the bandh.

Incidentally, the indefinite bandh hit the 76th day mark on Wednesday. Meanwhile echoing Gurung's statement, a poster was put up in Kurseong on Wednesday.
The poster stated that the GJM has rejected the appeal by the Chief Minister for the lifting of the indefinite bandh.

"The bandh will not be lifted unless the GJM Central Committee meeting called by Bimal Gurung takes a decision on the bandh. We appeal to the vehicle owners, drivers and business establishments to continue supporting the strike for Gorkhaland" stated the poster signed GJM, Kurseong.

Gurung had further stated that he would call an emergent GJM Central Committee meeting in a day or two and would ask the 5 GJM representatives to clarify on what went on in the Nabannya talks.

Gurung has been implicated in many cases including the blasts in Darjeeling and Kalimpong on August 19. A civic police died in the Act. A Home Guard
He has been charged under Sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

Gurung has remained incommunicado. Under this circumstance, chairing a Central Committee meeting would be a difficult task feel Observers.

Meanwhile in Kalimpong one Bijay Chettri, a GJM supporter was arrested under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and Explosive Substances Act.

"He has been arrested from Kalimpong in connection with the IED blast at the Kalimpong police station on August 19" stated Ajit Kumar Yadav, Superintendent of Police, Kalimpong.

On August 19 night an IED on the lines of a hand grenade was lobbed at the Kalimpong police station which killed a civic police and grievously injured a Home Guard Personnel.

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