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GJM activists step up pressure for Gorkhaland, resume hunger-strike | Activists of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), a regional organisation spearheading the demand for a separate state,
stepped up their protest on Saturday (December 26) for separate state of Gorkhaland, as they went on a hunger strike here. Activists were joined by many
non-Nepalese, who also demanded a separate Gorkhaland state. Protesters
demanded the announcement
of a new round of tripartite talks, as guaranteed by Central and State government
officials at an earlier tripartite meeting in Darjeeling town on December 21.
"This protest itself proves that Gorkhaland is not only meant for Gorkhas (ethnic
Nepalese) but also for other people residing in the Gorkhaland areas, like Bengalis,
Muslims, tribes and others. We will continue our protest until the Central government
calls for a political dialogue on the issue," said Sankar Adhikary, the convener
of the GJM Central Committee. Adhikary added that GJM activists had gone on
hunger
strike from Saturday (Dec.26) in all areas of the Darjeeling district to press
their demands. Gorkhas have been demanding a separate state, to be carved out
West Bengal, to help them protect their culture and heritage. The demand for
Gokhaland
gained momentum after New Delhi announced earlier this month that it would carve
out the new state of Telangana out of the present state of Andhra Pradesh in south
India. The Gorkha population in West Bengal is around one million out of over
80 million. |
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