The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on Tuesday alleged that the West Bengal government was interfering with the functioning of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and impinging on its autonomy, and sought the Centre’s intervention in the matter.
A GJM team, led by party president Bimal Gurung, took to Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde in New Delhi their reservations over the “provocative” and “aggressive” remarks of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during her visit to Darjeeling in January.
Ms. Banerjee’s utterances in public, particularly her statement that she could be “very rough and tough,” soured relations between the GJM and her government. It also made the GJM call for a “non-cooperation movement” later this month, the party leaders told Mr. Shinde.
“While Mr. Shinde assured us that he will look into the matter, he requested us not go ahead with our call for strike in the hills,” GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told The Hindu over telephone.
“We will take a final call on his appeal at the central committee meeting of our party on our return to Darjeeling,” he said.
Mr. Gurung was particularly peeved at the manner the “GTA agreement is being violated” and the autonomous body “not being allowed to function” because of the State government’s frequent “interference”.
“The GTA was doing well till the State’s interference got too frequent… The agreement was being violated and in such a situation, the GJM is left with little option but to call for an agitation,” he said, shortly after the meeting.
The GJM leaders will be taking their grievances to President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday.
