Darjeeling unrest: Indefinite strike to continue, decide hill parties

After representatives of 16 parties met at an all-party meeting on Thursday at the hills for several hours it was decided that the indefinite strike at the hills would continue till their demands of Gorkhaland was met. The parties which partook in the meeting

Included Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF). It had also been decided that Gorkhaland would not be accepted without Terai and Dooars regions. “The united fight for Gorkhaland will continue. Terai and Dooars are integral parts,” said Binay Tamang, assistant general secretary, GJM during a press meet after the meeting.

He also said that the Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee had decided to form human rights and legal cells and collect proofs of human rights violation by the state. “The state-sponsored atrocities have not stopped. We will be collecting digital evidences of human rights violation,” he said. During the meeting chairpersons of different boards created by the state government have been asked to resign and had been asked to join hands with the Gorkhaland movement. Further decision would be taken in the next all-party meeting on July 18.

Strike at Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mirik and Kalimpong entered its 22nd day on Thursday and shops and schools remain shut. Hardly any vehicle was plying. GJM supporters continued to take out rallies at the hills amidst huge deployment of police. Political scientists said that the GJM intends to get a strong foothold at the Terai and Dooars region which has a mixed population of tribals and other communities.