Protests for separate Gorkhaland continue in Siliguri - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Activists of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJMM), who are spearheading the movement for a separate Gorkhaland state, blocked the national highway-55 (NH-55) for around two-hours leading to traffic suspension. Such road blockade by the GJMM defies the Supreme Court's directive that prohibits any political party or faction from blocking any of the national highways, as a part of the stir or movement with an ultimatum that it would lead to annulling of their registration. But with only six days to go for the tripartite talks between the Centre, the state governments and GJMM representatives, it is also a pressure tactics employed by the activists to compel the government to reckon their demand seriously. Sankar Adhikary, the spokesperson of GJMM's Central Committee of Terai-Doars region said that they wanted a decisive outcome at the tripartite political talks. Adhikary said, "Look our movement is going on as per our Central Committee's decision. We will block the highway daily for two hours. It is going on in Siliguri-Terai region and we have been making the blockage successful" "Our relay strike is going on and today it is the 34th day. Our demand is that there should be tripartite political talks," he added. However, the police stopped the rally before the activists could proceed beyond Siliguri as a precautionary measure. Activists said they would continue their protests till the Central Government concedes their demand for a political dialogue on the Gorkhaland issue. Gorkhas have been demanding a separate state, to be carved out of West Bengal, to protect their culture and heritage. The demand for Gorkhaland gained momentum after New Delhi announced that it would initiate the process for a new state of Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh. The Gorkha population in West Bengal is estimated to be around a million.