After 104 Days of Bandh, GJM Ends Strike in Darjeeling Hills

Earlier in the day, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had appealed to the GJM to withdraw the strike.

A GJM supporter shouts slogans at a protest rally during the first few days of the Gorkhaland agitation in Darjeeling.

(Photo: PTI)

After 104 days, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) ended its strike demanding a separate Gorkhaland state in the Darjeeling hills.

Our party supremo Bimal Gurung has decided to suspend the indefinite shutdown in the hills from 6 am tomorrow morning for an indefinite period. The decision was taken after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s appeal to withdraw the strike

GJM vice-president Kalyan Dewan to PTI

Earlier in the day, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had appealed to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) to withdraw the ongoing strike in Darjeeling hills for a separate Gorkhaland state and asked the Union Home Secretary to convene an official-level meeting within a fortnight to discuss all related issues.

In a statement, the home minister said that in a democracy, dialogue is the only way out to resolve any problem and solutions can be found through restraint and mutual dialogue within the legal ambit.

"I appeal to the GJM and its leader Bimal Gurung to withdraw the ongoing bandh and to help create a conducive atmosphere for allowing normalcy to return to the area, particularly in view of the festival season," he said as the indefinite shutdown to press for a separate state of Gorkhaland continued for the 104th day.

Eleven precious lives have been lost so far, seven have been injured and the entire people of Darjeeling hills have suffered a lot since the strike. I have been pained immensely by what has happened in Darjeeling hills.

Rajnath Singh

The indefinite strike called by the GJM has continued since 15 June though its rebel leader Binay Tamang had announced suspension of the bandh.

On 20 September, the West Bengal government had announced the formation of a nine-member board of administrators, headed by ousted GJM leader Binay Tamang, to run the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).

Rebel GJM members Tamang and Anit Thapa were made the chairman and vice chairman of the board respectively.

The state administration on Monday night decided to lift the restrictions on use of internet services in Darjeeling and Kalimpong, which were imposed on 18 June.

‘What Took The Central Govt So Long?’: TMC

Reacting to GJM's decision, state Tourism Minister and TMC leader Gautam Deb said the central government has provided a face-saver to GJM supremo Bimal Gurung.

More than 80 percent of the shops and markets in the hills have already opened up defying Gurung, he said.

My question is what took the central government so long and that too when the situation in the hills has already normalised.

TMC leader Gautam Deb

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