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GJM activists kick off relay hunger-strike over separate Gorkhaland demand | | Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) activists kick started a relay hunger strike in West Bengal's Siliguri town on Monday to give a fillip to their movement over the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland. The hunger strike was kicked off
eyeing upon putting the Centre on the back foot ahead of the sixth round of tripartite
talks, involving the Central Government and the representatives of the GJM to
be held in New Delhi on May 14. The hunger strike has been initiated by the women
and the students' wings of the GJM in the Terai-Doars region and the Darjeeling
hills. Reportedly, seven members each from the women and students' wing have embarked
on a relay hunger strike after GJM supporters closed down the Central and State
Government offices today. "We started the relay hunger strike at 11:19 am today
and will continue with the strike till our demands are met. We are doing this
for the success of the tripartite talks, as we want representation of all lovers
of Gorkhaland in the interim council," said Pampa Tamang, leader of women's wing
of GJM in the Terai region. Each group will be on hunger strike for 24 hours,
after which another group would replace the earlier one, sustaining the momentum
of the agitation. GJM activists and supporters intend to continue the strike till
their demands are met at the tripartite talks. "The strike is going to continue
for 15 days and if our demands are not met, we will fast unto death," commented
Madhusudan Thapa, an observer of the GJM Terai-Doars Committee. Earlier on April
9, GJM chief Bimal Gurung met Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi,
who assured him that he would talk to the Government of West Bengal and Trinamool
Congress about the new territory. The GJM had agreed during the fifth round of
tripartite talks in New Delhi to the constitution of Interim Council by next year
prior to the creation of a separate state. Gorkhas, who are ethnic Nepalese, have
been demanding a separate state in Darjeeling hills, to help them protect their
culture and heritage. |
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