GJM bandh has BJP backing

Shubhadeep Choudhury 

Tribune News Service

Kolkata, June 13

The stir in the hill areas of West Bengal spearheaded by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is set to linger with the GJM today securing support for its call for an “indefinite bandh” from five other parties, including the BJP and Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) founded by late Subhash Ghishing.

Christened as an “all party” meeting, the six parties met at the Gymkhana Club at Darjeeling this afternoon and deliberated on the agitation underway in the hills to press for the demand for separate state. 

The Centre too stepped in today and dispatched 600 paramilitary personnel to assist the state government in restoring normalcy. It also sought a detailed report on the prevailing situation from the state government.

At a press meet in the presence of the representatives of all parties that attended the meeting, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said all participants had lent their support to the GJM’s call for indefinite bandh of all government offices in the hills.

The parties will again meet on June 20 and discuss the next course of action. The GNLF had joined hands with CM Mamata Banerjee-led ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and supported TMC during the last Lok Sabha and Assembly polls and in the recently held civil polls in three municipalities in the hills.

However, cracks developed in the alliance when GNLF accused the TMC of not acknowledging GNLF’s contribution for the TMC candidates’ success in the civic polls in Mirik. By participating in the meeting today, GNLF has not only reiterated its support to the cause of separate Gorkhaland carved out of West Bengal, it has also signalled its formal separation with the TMC.

The BJP also participated in the meeting today even though the party’s state unit maintains that it was against the creation of Gorkhaland. However, BJP MP from Darjeeling SS Ahluwalia, who has won the seat because of the support from GJM, has always backed the hill party. 

Meanwhile, after a relatively quiet Monday, the first day of the indefinite bandh, trouble broke out today when police chased away GJM supporters who had violated prohibition order and assembled near the district magistrate’s office.

GJM supporters retaliated by throwing stones at the police. Today was also the first day of the two-day strike called by the trade unions of the tea garden workers of North Bengal. GJM extended support to the bandh and as a result Darjeeling came to a standstill.