West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s decision to slap murder charges against senior leaders of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), including its leader Bimal Gurung and his wife Asha, drew sharp criticism from the GJM in Darjeeling even as the indefinite protest called by the separatists entered day 10 on Thursday.
The GJM dubbed the CM's decision “a threat and coercion” and said, “She is intimidating us. The repercussion will not be good,” said.
Binoy Tamang, assistant secretary of GJM, said they will meet again with other hills parties and take decision on the future course of action.
He said GJM is not willing to hold talks with the government. “There is only one dialogue and that will be on the new state of Gorkhaland. We will not talk to government on any other issue.”
A joint team of the CPM and the Congress will visit Darjeeling next week to assess the situation.
“Our team will resolve the confusion,” said CPM leader Ashok Bhattacharya.
GJM, an ally of the BJP, has pressurised the Centre to withdraw forces from the hills. It seems to have worked as the Home Ministry on Thursday refused to send four CRPF company to Darjeeling despite the state government's request.
Meanwhile, Sikim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling has written a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, asking the government to approve the new state, “The present situation is horrible. What has happened in Darjeeling is not at all not in the interests of Gorkhas living in other regions. A Gorkha land curved out of Bengal would be in the best interest of Sikkim even...” he said.
“In fact, a Gorkhaland in Darjeeling could solve all the problems. Gorkhas are patriotic and why are we not addressing the issue of true patriots,” he added.
The West Bengal government has accused the Sikkim government of interfering in the issue of another state.
“We will hope that the other state will play the constructive role not the destructive one,” said senior cabinet minister Partha Chatterjee.
