Pressure mounts for Gorkhaland

Dec. 10: Emboldened by the Centre’s nod for Telangana, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM)
on Thursday intensified its demand for a separate homeland by announcing
an indefinite hungerstrike and a 96-hour bandh in the North Bengal hills.

“We welcome the Centre’s decision to create Telangana state by splitting Andhra Pradesh and request them to grant a separate state for thousands of Gorkhas,” GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said. Only days before the tripartite talks due on December 21, the GJM’s aggressive move is being seen as an effort to put pressure on both New Delhi and Kolkata.

The GJM’s move could make situation difficult for chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, already in a tight corner following the Trinamul Congress resurgence in the state.

“We are going to Delhi to mobilise support for our just cause,” Mr Giri said. “Twenty-one GJM supporters will go on a fast-unto-death from Friday in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Siliguri,” he said.