The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on Saturday suspended its proposed two-day bandh from December 20 in the Darjeeling hills in deference to a call from Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and senior BJP leader L.K. Advani.
“We have suspended the bandh. We met Pranab Mukherjee yesterday and Advani today, who asked us to wait for the outcome of the tripartite talks,” GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told PTI from Delhi.
“Also Christmas is approaching. In deference to the wishes of the Finance Minister and L.K. Advani, we suspended the bandh,” he said.
He said that the GJM delegation led by party president Bimal Gurung also met Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi.
“We extensively elaborated our stand to Rahul Gandhi,” he said.
Asked about the recent revival of the demand for Gorkhaland, Mr. Giri evaded a direct reply saying, “Let’s see. So many rounds of talks have taken place. We want an interim council to materialise soon.”
He said that a rally would be held on January 3 either at Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong or Siligiri where future strategy of the GJM would be worked out.
On Friday, West Bengal Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh had said that the tripartite talks on Darjeeling was not taking place immediately as the Centre was yet to inform the West Bengal government.
