GJM bandh cripples Darjeeling
Further hardening their stand, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Biman Gurung on Saturday said that chief minister Mamata Banerjee would have to come to Darjeeling and apologise to the people even as the 12-hour bandh crippled normal life in the hills.
Referring to the Ms Banerjee’s last visit to the hills and her subsequent decision to form a separate Lepcha Development Board, Mr Gurung said that the relations between the state government and his party (GJM) had deteriorated beyond repair.
“Mamata Banerjee will have to come to Darjeeling Chowrasta and apologise to the people of the hills because she has hurt their sentiments,” he added.
The shutdown in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong was total. The strike was called to protest the decision to set up Lepcha Development Board. The GJM leadership was up in arms against North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb whom Ms Banerjee sent to Darjeeling on Friday evening as an emissary to placate Mr Gurung.
The GJM satraps snubbed Mr Deb and did not meet him. “He is the person responsible for the souring of our relations. He came here to foment trouble in the hills. Why should we go and meet him?” he asked aggressively. At the root of the present crisis was the Uttar Banga Utsav which was held in Darjeeling Chowrasta on January 29. It was during that function that the chief minister reiterated her stand that Darjeeling was an integral part of Bengal. This upset the GJM supporters who started shouting “We want Gorkhaland” slogans.
An infuriated Ms Banerjee shouted at them and asked them not to raise political slogans at a government programme. Her meeting with Mr Gurung scheduled for later in the day was cancelled. An angry Mr Gurung next day threatened to launch a militant agitation to press for his demand for a separate homeland.
The GJM leadership alleged that the Uttar Banga Utsav was Mr Deb’s brainchild. “He should have organised it in Siliguri only. What was the need to organise it in Darjeeling?” asked a GJM leader.
Ms Banerjee distributed land pattas in the programme which upset the GJM leaders who termed it as an encroachment of the authority of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.
Ms Banerjee’s move to form a separate body for the Lepchas further fuelled their anger. “The GTA is an autonomous body. Ms Banerjee’s decision to set up a Lepcha board is an infringement on GTA’s authority. She is trying to drive a wedge between the Gorkhas and the Lepchas,” Mr Gurung complained. MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri said that the GJM was sending a memorandum to governor M.K. Narayanan making these allegations against the state government.
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