GJM chief dashes letter to Mamata for dialogue

Within 48 hours after the announcement of an all-party meeting by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to discuss the issue at the hills, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president Bimal Gurung wrote a letter to Mamata requesting her to initiate a dialogue. He has also put forward a five-point demand to the CM.

At the beginning of the letter, Gurung stated that the demand for Gorkhaland by the Gorkhas had been unconstitutionally quashed by the government and that in spite of the shortage of food, vegetables, and essential commodities they were ready to go on with the bandh till the Gorkhaland demand was fulfilled.

“When the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) was formed we were told that if the GTA failed to work, Gorkhas could go back to their demand for Gorkhaland,” said Swaraj Thapa, member of GJM’s Central Committee. He said that the state government had ignored the call for an all-party meeting on August 13 by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Mamata, however, on Thursday evening claimed that she had not received any such letter.

In another development, a blast took place near Sukhia Pokhri Police Station early in the morning on Thursday. Although there had been no casualty, several shops and cars were damaged …read more