Kolkata: A day after calling off its four-day shutdown, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on Tuesday gave a fresh call for an indefinite bandh in Government offices and educational institutions in the Darjeeling hills from Wednesday in a bid to keep up the pressure ahead of the tripartite talks on December 21.
"The bandh is to express solidarity for GJM members on a fast-unto-death over the Gorkhaland demand since December 11 and whose condition is deteriorating fast," GJM central committee member Harkabahadur Chetri told PTI from Darjeeling.
The strike called by GJM-backed Janmukti Karmachari Sangsthan and Secondary and Primary Teachers' organisations would be observed in all state and central government offices, he said, with banks, post offices and emergency services exempted.
Stating that the onus is on the West Bengal government for participating in the tripartite talks in Darjeeling, Chetri said "We will participate."
"The Union Home Minister told a GJM delegation, BJP leaders and MP from Darjeeling Jaswant Singh that the tripartite talks are on a fast track and some positive outcome was expected," Chetri said.
Demanding that the Centre should grant Gorkhaland on the lines of a separate Telangana, he said the GJM was opposed to a different criterion for the 102-year-old demand.
Asked whether the fresh strike call would not disturb the atmosphere for the tripartite talks, he said "We do not think so."
"Schools and other educational institutions in Darjeeling are on vacation. Employees and teachers' bodies will be on strike to express solidarity with the
hunger-strikers. What is the wrong in that?," he said.
Meanwhile, the Centre has appealed Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to call off its ongoing hunger strike in order to hold tripartite talks on the Gorkhaland issue in a conducive manner.
It also welcomed the decision of the GJM to withdraw the bandh call for Wednesday in the Darjeeling Hill area.
"The Government has taken note of the demands of the GJM. The Government is seized of the matter and next round of tripartite talks with the representative of the GJM and the State Government is scheduled for December 21, 2009 at Darjeeling under the Chairmanship of the Union Home
Secretary," an official release said on Tuesday.
"It is imperative that the talks are held in a conducive atmosphere. MHA, therefore, appeals to GJM to call off the ongoing hunger strike immediately," it added.
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