Darjeeling: Rallies, demonstrations continue as ‘sadak ma janta’ prog kicks-off

The GJM-affiliated Bharatiya Gorkha Bhutpurwa Sainik Morcha today organised a silent rally in Darjeeling town to condemn state government atrocities on those agitating for statehood.

Rally participants, with their mouths covered with black cloth and bands around their arms, held anti-state government placards and circumambulated the town area to subsequently convene for a public meeting at the motor stand area.

Meanwhile, GJM Yuwa Morcha members demonstrated against the state government’s policy earlier in the morning while continuing with their demand for a separate state. Some of the members, flogging their bare backs with leather belts in a symbolic gesture, started off from Kakjhora and converged at the venue of the public meeting.

“We will not get frightened by the state government’s tactics to spread terror by arresting the agitators. Our struggle will not be subdued by use of police force. Beating ourselves is a mark of protest against the Bengal government,” said Yuwa Morcha member Allan Chhetri.

A sea of GJM supporters had gathered for a public meeting in the morning braving the unrelenting downpour. Local unit leaders condemned the divisive policy being adopted by the state government in its bid to suppress the statehood movement and affirmed their unconditional support to the party.

The day also saw members of the All India Lepcha Association (AILA) restarting their relay hunger strike at the Motor Stand. The AILA members had started the agitation on September 1 after the Lepcha community in Kalimpong, under the banner of ‘Hills People’, staged a dharna for restoration of peace in the hills, which was eventually lifted.

“Our brethren in Kalimpong must understand that the state government is only interested in using us for its political gains. The Bengal government is trying to divide us. We must not fall into the trap because at the end we ourselves will stand to lose,” warned AILA vice president Hemant Lepcha.

The ‘sadak ma janta’ agitation spearheaded by the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee also commenced today after two days of the ‘ghar bhitra janta’ programme. The curfew-like agitation observed on Monday and Tuesday was aimed at frustrating the programme organised by the Lepchas of Kalimpong to felicitate chief minister Mamata Banerjee.(EOI)

Mirik: Ex-Army personnel condemn Mamata’s anti-Gorkhaland speech

The anti-Gorkhaland speech by chief minister Mamata Banerjee in Kalimpong on Tuesday was today condemned in Mirik by the GJM-affiliated retired Army personnel association with a silent rally. The rally participants had their mouths covered with black cloth as a mark of protest and they marched from Bypass More to Krishnanagar.

Speaking to reporters after the rally, GJM Mirik unit president of the association, Pandu Tamang, said the rally was organised as per the Morcha central committee’s instructions. 

He said, “Mamata Banerjee says Gorkhaland will not be conceded, let her say so. It doesn’t make any difference. We know she is not bigger than the Constitution. We are demanding a state according to section 3A of the Constitution, we are not demanding Mamata’s (agricultural) field.”(EOI)