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This is an archive article published on June 25, 2010

Morcha finally calls off its staggered ‘indefinite’ bandh

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on Thursday decided to call off its indefinite bandh in the Hills that had started on June 19 to protest against the lathicharge by CRPF personnel on Morcha’s women wing — Nari Mukti Morcha — members at Kurseong.

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The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on Thursday decided to call off its indefinite bandh in the Hills that had started on June 19 to protest against the lathicharge by CRPF personnel on Morcha’s women wing — Nari Mukti Morcha — members at Kurseong.

The decision was taken at the central committee meeting of the outfit held today in Darjeeling. “In view of our ensuing talks with the Adivasi Vikas Parishad which will start in a week’s time we have suspended the bandh. We have also suspended our programme of fast unto death. We will however go ahead with our agitational programme of two-hour road blockade and gherao of police stations,” said Roshan Giri,Morcha general secretary.

Though Morcha said the bandh was being called off in view of talks with the Adivasi Bikas Parishad on June 27 on the change of nomenclature of the proposed separate state from Gorkhaland to Gorkhaland Adivasi Pradesh,experts of the region say that it had more to do with the tremendous pressure the outfit is facing in the wake of allegations levelled against it in connection with the gruesome murder of All India Gorkha League leader Madan Tamang on May 25.

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Adding to it,the crackdown on Gorkhaland police (GLP),the volunteer force of the Morcha,has also weakened the outfit. From the very onset,the bandh this time failed to evoke strong response. The outfit had to suspend the bandh for two days — June 23 and June 24 — saying it would be reimposed with “stronger force”.

With today’s announcement,the state government could not hide its glee. “The Morcha is fast losing ground in the Hills. They have realised that and which is why they have withdrawn the bandh. It’s time they are dealt firmly,” said Ashok Bhattacharya,minister for urban development,who represents Siliguri at the state Assembly.

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