Sikkim CM Pawan Chamling, on 22 June, backed the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s (GJM) demand for the state of Gorkhaland.
“Fulfilment of constitutional demand of Gorkhas will bring justice,” he wrote in a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Meanwhile, the centre is closely monitoring developments in Darjeeling in West Bengal, where the situation remained tense due to the indefinite bandh called by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM).
The bandh has brought normal life in Darjeeling to a standstill. As many as 24 cases have been registered by the police.
A total of 49 security force personnel have been injured in the violence, the sources said. A total of 11 companies, about 1,375 personnel, are stationed in the region. Of them, one is an all-woman company.
As of now, there is no need to intervene, official sources said on 21 June, adding that they were in contact with the state government authorities on a regular basis.
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In its report to the Home Ministry, the state government indicated that the elections to Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), that includes Darjeeling and other neighbouring areas, could be a reason behind the ongoing violence.
The Bimal Gurung-led GJM dominates the GTA. In 2012, the GJM secured all the 45 seats, 22 in Darjeeling sub-division, 10 in Kurseong and 13 in Kalimpong, under the GTA.
In the mid-1980’s, the Darjeeling hills saw a violent movement for a separate Gorkhaland. The movement ended with the establishment of a semi- autonomous administrative body in 1988 called Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), which was headed by Ghisingh.
As Ghisingh's influence waned over time, the GJM launched another movement for a separate state of Gorkhaland. In 2011, the GJM signed an agreement with the state and central governments and another semi-autonomous administrative unit GTA was born replacing the DGHC.
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