Darjeeling stalemate continues with new knots in it for West Bengal state Government as well as Gorkha Janamukti Morcha(GJM), the party spearheading the movement in hills with its demand for separate statehood.
GJM has restarted its movement in the name of 'Ghar Bahira Janta,' (Public out of home), where all are urged to come out of home but not to take part in any work. According to GJM President Mr. Bimal Gurung, on-going indefinite Ghar Bahira Janata agitation is a reflection of the spontaneous collective resolve of the people of the Darjeeling hills to protest the continuing arrest of its leaders and Gorkhaland supporters in the present crackdown by the State Government's police against the movement for Gorkhaland.
He also said, " The GJM leadership affirms its full respect for the recent observations of the Calcutta High Court on the developments in the Darjeeling hills and asserts that there is no diktat issued for the people. The agitation should not be construed as a bandh but is only an expression of the free will of the people."
"Situation is getting tighter for Mr. Gurung now," says senior hill dwellers. "Despite no silver lining from any corner so far, he cannot leave the movement now. Over 700 leaders including GJM central committee members and elected Gorkhaland Territorial Administration members got arrested during the last three weeks long movement. Any slack attitude of Mr. Gurung towards aggressive movement will generate resentment among supporters of these arrested leaders. On the other side, common mass is almost at the threshold of tolerance after facing the bandh for two weeks. Any continuation of the bandh will make it critical for GJM."
In another development, state assembly has rejected the pledge of 3 GJM MLAs to be allowed to be seated on opposition bench. GJM had an electoral tie up with TMC during last state assembly election and that friendship took a renewed shape during just concluded panchayat election too.
On the other side, making things complicated for administration, all the arrested GJM leaders are going for hunger strike inside jail. "We are yet to receive any centralized directive on how to handle this. Naturally, we will act as the situation demands," said a senior administrative official. "May be Government has some long term planning. We will comply to that when we receive directives," he added.
At state level, putting pressure on government, opposition leader Dr. Suryakanta Misra demanded state to come on dialogue with GJM.
While talking on the bandh today state North Bengal development minister Mr. Gautam Dev said, "High Courts directive is being violated and the court will definitely see that. " The high court held the indefinite bandh in Darjeeling as illegal. But the Minister remained silent on whether state has formed any specific plan or not to handle the overall situation.
Understandably the situation has brought GJM as well as state at a critical situation where none of these two rivals have any clear path that can ensure early restoration of normalcy.
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| Ghar Bahira Janta,' (Public out of home) |
GJM has restarted its movement in the name of 'Ghar Bahira Janta,' (Public out of home), where all are urged to come out of home but not to take part in any work. According to GJM President Mr. Bimal Gurung, on-going indefinite Ghar Bahira Janata agitation is a reflection of the spontaneous collective resolve of the people of the Darjeeling hills to protest the continuing arrest of its leaders and Gorkhaland supporters in the present crackdown by the State Government's police against the movement for Gorkhaland.
He also said, " The GJM leadership affirms its full respect for the recent observations of the Calcutta High Court on the developments in the Darjeeling hills and asserts that there is no diktat issued for the people. The agitation should not be construed as a bandh but is only an expression of the free will of the people."
"Situation is getting tighter for Mr. Gurung now," says senior hill dwellers. "Despite no silver lining from any corner so far, he cannot leave the movement now. Over 700 leaders including GJM central committee members and elected Gorkhaland Territorial Administration members got arrested during the last three weeks long movement. Any slack attitude of Mr. Gurung towards aggressive movement will generate resentment among supporters of these arrested leaders. On the other side, common mass is almost at the threshold of tolerance after facing the bandh for two weeks. Any continuation of the bandh will make it critical for GJM."
In another development, state assembly has rejected the pledge of 3 GJM MLAs to be allowed to be seated on opposition bench. GJM had an electoral tie up with TMC during last state assembly election and that friendship took a renewed shape during just concluded panchayat election too.
On the other side, making things complicated for administration, all the arrested GJM leaders are going for hunger strike inside jail. "We are yet to receive any centralized directive on how to handle this. Naturally, we will act as the situation demands," said a senior administrative official. "May be Government has some long term planning. We will comply to that when we receive directives," he added.
At state level, putting pressure on government, opposition leader Dr. Suryakanta Misra demanded state to come on dialogue with GJM.
While talking on the bandh today state North Bengal development minister Mr. Gautam Dev said, "High Courts directive is being violated and the court will definitely see that. " The high court held the indefinite bandh in Darjeeling as illegal. But the Minister remained silent on whether state has formed any specific plan or not to handle the overall situation.
Understandably the situation has brought GJM as well as state at a critical situation where none of these two rivals have any clear path that can ensure early restoration of normalcy.
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