Bimal Gurung today announced there would be no agitation in the
Darjeeling hills in a turnaround two months after he told schools in the
region to hold exams earlier than scheduled.
At the Darjeeling Motor Stand meeting, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha
chief said: "I had thought of holding some component of the agitation in
the hills, but looking at children preparing for examinations like
ICSE, ISC and Madhyamik, I have decided to cancel the agitation in the
Darjeeling hills."
School exams are generally held in mid-November and many schools have
completed their annual exams. But Gurung's categorical announcement and
his silence on making good his threat to quit as the head of the GTA
could bring relief in the hills for now.
The Morcha, while not specifically announcing an agitation plan in
the hills, had said an indefinite hunger strike might take place if the
Union home ministry does not hold a meeting to look into the demand of
forming a committee to examine the demand of Gorkhaland by December 5.
Gurung's statement today gave an indication that the Morcha did not
want to antagonise the Centre just after it had shown some movement
regarding the grant of ST status to 11 communities.
Gurung today said he was hopeful of a Union home ministry meeting
soon. "The Union home minister, Rajnath Singh, had gone to Cuba for the
funeral (of Fidel Castro). He returned only yesterday and we are
confident that the meeting will be held soon," he said.
The Morcha chief seemed to be banking on the formation of a committee
to examine the demand of statehood and also for a favourable report on
the demand of granting the Scheduled Tribe status.
"We are expecting the committee (headed by Vishu Maini, deputy
director in the ministry of tribal affairs) to submit its report in the
next 15-20 days. We are confident the bill will be placed in Parliament
during the monsoon session," Gurung said.
Even though Gurung was optimistic on both the tribal and statehood committees, he was a bit cautious in his proclamation.
"As announced earlier, the agitation in Delhi will take place from
December 12 to 16. If there are no positive outcome by then, we will not
hesitate to announce an agitation in Delhi from December 17," he said.
Sources in the Morcha said the party is planning a two-day dharna at
Jantar Mantar on December 12 and 13, followed by two days of relay
hunger strike and a rally on December 16.
Impressed by a good turnout at the Darjeeling meeting today, Gurung
attacked Mamata Banerjee and the Jana Andolan Party president Harka
Bahadur Chhetri.
"The impressive turnout today is a reply to Mamata Banerjee's
oppressive and divisive politics. She has been creating divisions, not
just in the hill communities, but now even among the minorities such as
Muslims and Christians. People, however, understand everything these
days," Gurung said.
He accused Mamata of coming to power in 2011 with "the chit fund
money of Saradha" and also protested her allegation against the army.
"Her statement against the army is uncalled for. The Centre must speak
on this."
"She is probably worried now that the chit fund money will be
exposed," Gurung said in reference to Mamata's protest against
demonetisation. The Morcha has held rallies in the hills welcoming the
demonetisation move.(TT)
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