GJMM not to participate in strike on Thursday

The Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha (GJMM) has decided not to participate in the countrywide strike called by the opposition parties on Thursday.

According to party leaders, the strike would hamper the ongoing relief work for landslide victims in the Hills.

The party has expressed its opposition against the government's decision to raising diesel prices by Rs 5 per litre and demanded immediate withdrawal of the decision. 

It has also demanded that the government withdraw the restriction on sales of subsidised cooking fuel or LPG cylinders to six per consumer annually.

On Thursday, the party has decided to organise a massive rally in Darjeeling and the Gorkha Territorial Administration region where all the party-affiliated frontal organisations will participate.

"We demand the government immediately withdraw its decision of hike in diesel prices. The decision to subsidise LPG cylinders to six per consumer annually is not feasible for the hills people due to geographical and climatic conditions. The government should provide us with immediate relaxations similar to those of Jammu and Kashmir," said GJMM assistant secretary Binay Tamang.

Incessant rainfall in Hills for the last four days has led to several landslides in the region. This has left several families homeless. Around 200 families have already been rehabilitated in relief camps that have been set up in many landslide-hit areas.

An estimated damage of Rs 40-50 crore has been caused by the recent landslides. 

Source: Press Trust of India / Darjeeling September 18, 2012