The Hindu : National : GJM’s Darjeeling bandh suspended till July 5

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GJM’s Darjeeling bandh suspended till July 5

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: The indefinite bandh, called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) that was to resume in the three hill subdivisions of Darjeeling district on Wednesday after a 60-hour relaxation, has been “suspended” till July 5.

“The decision was announced by the GJM president, Bimal Gurung, in view of the positive response from the Union Home Minister who met a delegation of our leaders that called on him in New Delhi to discuss our demand for a separate State”, GJM spokesman Benoy Tamang told The Hindu over telephone from Darjeeling on Tuesday.

The Home Ministry reportedly asked the GJM leadership to pursue talks with the State government as the stalemate could only be resolved through discussions.

“The Union Home Minister informed the GJM delegation that he will be contacting the West Bengal Chief Minister and will be calling for tripartite talks that we have been asking for,” Mr. Tamang said.

Denying that it was “under pressure” to put on hold its call for resuming the bandh, the GJM leadership claimed it was suspended as discussions were on with leaders in New Delhi and a meeting was scheduled with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee here on June 27.

Mr. Gurung said his colleagues, who would meet Mr. Bhattacharjee, would seek his assistance in facilitating tripartite talks.

The Centre had also advised the GJM delegation to talk with the State government prior to any tripartite discussion.

In another development, the Sikkim government was reportedly assured of all help by the Centre in keeping the National Highway 31-A open to traffic during the bandh called in the Darjeeling hills. A considerable stretch of the highway passes through Darjeeling district.

The Union Home and Defence Secretaries met Sikkim officials and also called on Chief Minister Pawan Chamling in Gangtok, an official of Mr. Chamling’s secretariat said.

They later met senior officials of the Sikkim and the West Bengal governments near Siliguri and determined measures to keep the highway open during the bandh.

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