After a day’s respite for the people to stock up food items, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha’s (GJM) indefinite shut down in the Darjeeling hills demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland was back again on Sunday.
A team of GJM legislators and MPs, past and present, would go to New Delhi during the day to meet Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (B.J.P) leaders on the demand for a separate state.
All shops were closed and traffic was off the roads as GJM supporters were on the streets in large numbers voicing the demand for Gorkhaland.
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G.J.M General Secretary, Roshan Giri, had left for Delhi three days ago, but was stated to be on a ‘private’ visit.
The teachers and student wings of the G.J.M would also meet later in the day to decide whether schools and colleges would reopen.
After the meeting, the decision would be made known to the G.J.M-led Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee, which is carrying forward the agitation. The GJAC would subsequently make a formal announcement.
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As part of the indefinite shut down, ‘Ghar Bhitra Janta’ (people staying indoors) would be held on September 2 and 3, as announced by the G.J.M.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to visit Kalimpong in the hills on September 3, at the invitation of the Lepchas.
On August 29, the CM had renewed her appeal to the G.J.M for restoration of normalcy in the hills.
The Calcutta High Court had on August 14 expressed displeasure over the G.J.M’s violation of its order of which had held the indefinite bandh in Darjeeling as illegal.