Darjeeling unrest: After 78 days, GJM decides to withdraw bandh till next round of talks with Bengal govt

The GJM central committee has decided to put off indefinite strike in Darjeeling hills till next round of talks with West Bengal government. The bandh will be relaxed from 6AM on Friday and normalcy will be maintained for the next 12 days, said Binay Tamang, Joint Secretary of GJM.

This is a significant climbdown from GJM, as it came under immense pressure from other hill parties to withdraw strike. On Tuesday, Bimal Gurung had said GJM supremo Bimal Gurung had said in an audio message that there is no question of withdrawing the shutdown until and unless talks begin on the issue of a separate state. “There is no question of calling off the shutdown until and unless the state government begins dialogue on the one point agenda of Gorkhaland. So many people have died. We have some duties and responsibilities towards the people of Darjeeling,” Gurung had said. “If the state did not agree to discuss the issue of Gorkhaland, then the hill parties should have walked out. We will inform about our stand after discussing the matter in our central committee,” he had said.

The decision was taken in the GJM central committee meeting which met in Darjeeling …read more