KalimNews: Schools scheduled to open from 21st February may open for the new session. But 22 nd is the dateline for ultimatum of GJM to State government and GJM may announce the next phase of agitation which may include schools, indicated Dr HB Chhetri, GJM spokesperson.
Most schools have decided to open for the new session as their students are local days scholars, while those schools having students from outside and boarders are reluctant to take the risk. From Monday our school will open as we are having Madhyamik Pariksha but classes of new session will be started only after the Madhyamik Pariksha, said a Headmaster of a local school. Some of the town schools have announced to reopen on 1st March.
Most schools have decided to open for the new session as their students are local days scholars, while those schools having students from outside and boarders are reluctant to take the risk. From Monday our school will open as we are having Madhyamik Pariksha but classes of new session will be started only after the Madhyamik Pariksha, said a Headmaster of a local school. Some of the town schools have announced to reopen on 1st March.
Rumours are just rumours
KalimNeews: Rumours plagued hills and plains about firing , death of a hunger strike participant and strike, later people found that all were rumours. In Bagrakote all the five protestors of GJNM on fast unto death are back to fast at Bhanu Maidan of Bagrakote. They were forcibly taken to Jalpaiguri by WB police at 1.30am today. Later at Jalpaiguri Hospital they denied any medical treatment. But they were helpless when a bottle of intravenous dextrose/saline was administered to three of them.
GJM supporters took them back to Bagrakote after release from the hospital on personal bond. The five women GJM supporter protestors volunteered again to continue fast unto death. Situation in Bagrakote is normal. Raju Nepali a GJM office bearer of Western Dooars said that police tried to disturb the peace and fired two rounds of blank fire but GJM supporters didnot retaliate as such situation is normal.
Meanwhile Minority forum members are on relay hunger strike in Shibshu. GJM supporters of Kalchini were stopped by the police and arrested at Hamilongunj for Long March to Khumani.
Take actions immediately-CM direction to administration
KalimNews: Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, Chief Minister directed the administration to be strict for maintaining peace in the hills and plains. He also told them to take actions to control the movement of GJM with stern actions. He had a closed door meeting for an hour at Circuit House Siliguri with Amarendra kumar Singh the Divisional Commissioner, Ranveer Kumar IG P North Bengal, Bandana Yadav DM Jalpaiguri, Anand Kumar SP Jalpaiguri , DP Singh SP Darjeeling, Mohan Gandhi DM Darjeeling.
CM also directed the police to arrest all those involved in the fire and arson after the Shibsu incident and take all measures to stop such incidents in near future. He also ordered the police to be vigilant and watch observantly at camp of Bimal Gurung in Khumani. CM also assured them that all will be well by 1st March.
A delegation of BOBBC seeking appointment with CM was denied permission on which BOBBC members shouted slogan against CPM and CM.
GJM supporters took them back to Bagrakote after release from the hospital on personal bond. The five women GJM supporter protestors volunteered again to continue fast unto death. Situation in Bagrakote is normal. Raju Nepali a GJM office bearer of Western Dooars said that police tried to disturb the peace and fired two rounds of blank fire but GJM supporters didnot retaliate as such situation is normal.
Meanwhile Minority forum members are on relay hunger strike in Shibshu. GJM supporters of Kalchini were stopped by the police and arrested at Hamilongunj for Long March to Khumani.
Take actions immediately-CM direction to administration
KalimNews: Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, Chief Minister directed the administration to be strict for maintaining peace in the hills and plains. He also told them to take actions to control the movement of GJM with stern actions. He had a closed door meeting for an hour at Circuit House Siliguri with Amarendra kumar Singh the Divisional Commissioner, Ranveer Kumar IG P North Bengal, Bandana Yadav DM Jalpaiguri, Anand Kumar SP Jalpaiguri , DP Singh SP Darjeeling, Mohan Gandhi DM Darjeeling.
CM also directed the police to arrest all those involved in the fire and arson after the Shibsu incident and take all measures to stop such incidents in near future. He also ordered the police to be vigilant and watch observantly at camp of Bimal Gurung in Khumani. CM also assured them that all will be well by 1st March.
A delegation of BOBBC seeking appointment with CM was denied permission on which BOBBC members shouted slogan against CPM and CM.
मुख्यमन्त्रीकै निर्देशमा बाग्राकोटको अनशन उठाइएको हो-क्रामाकपा
मनोज बोगटि, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 20 फरवरी। मुख्यमन्त्री वुद्धदेव भट्टाचार्य मालबजारमा आएर प्रशासनिक धम्की दिनु अनि त्यसै राती अनशन उठाउनुमा बङ्गाल सरकारको ठूलो षढ़यन्त्र रहेको छ। बाग्राकोटको अनशन उठाउनुमा निश्चित रूपले मुख्यमन्त्रीकै हात रहेको छ। उक्त कुरा आज स्थानीय पार्टी कार्यालयमा एक पत्रकार सम्मेलनको आयोजना गर्दै गक्रायुमो केन्द्रिय महासचिव अरूण घतानीले भनेका हुन्। अहिलेको गणतान्त्रिक आन्दोलनलाई बङ्गाल सरकारले अगणतान्त्रिक अनि संत्रासपूर्ण बनाउन खोजिरहेको आरोप लगाउँदै अहिले बङ्गालको वामफ्रण्ट सरकारको साङ्गठानिक शक्ति अनि राजनैतिक धरातल खस्किरहेको बेलामा उनीहरू कुनै हदसम्म पनि गिर्न सक्ने बताएका छन्।
यो केवल आउँदो विधानसभा चुनावको निम्ति डुवर्सको जनताको स्यावासी बटुल्न मात्र वामफ्रण्टले यस्तो नीति अप्नाएको बताउँदै क्रामाकपा वामफ्रण्टको यस्तो नीतिको घोर विरोधमा रहेको जनाएका छन्। उनले सिप्सुमा भएको गोलीकाण्डको घोर विरोध जनाउँदै गणतान्त्रिक ढङ्गमा भइरहेको पदयात्रामा जुन बर्बरतापूर्वक गोली चलाउने कार्य भयो त्यसको विरोध जनाउँदै उनले भने, बङ्गाल सरकार अहिले बर्बरता देखाउने एउटा पराकाष्टा भएको छ। एकातिर, नन्दीग्राम, सिङ्गुर, लालगढ़ अनि अहिले दार्जीलिङ पहाड़ र तराई डुवर्सवासीमा पुलिस प्रशासन र सीआरपीएफको आतङ्क फैलाएर गोर्खाहरूको हक र अधिकारको लड़ाईंलाई पैंतालाले कुल्चने इरादा लिएर उनी मालबजार आए यो अति नै निन्दनीय विषय हो। बरू उनी गोलीकाण्डको जायजा लिनु सिप्सु जानपर्ने थियो। उनले अझ भने, मन अनि सम्पूर्ण राजनैतिक रूपले चरम उग्र अन्ध जातीयता भावना बोकेको बुद्धदेव भट्टाचार्यले मालबजार आएर समग्र गोर्खाहरूलाई लाखेस गर्नु उनले उग्र जातीयतावादको दृष्टिभङ्गी देखाइरहेका छन्।
गोर्खाहरूलाई दुइ नम्बरको नागरिक अनि विदेशी सरह दमन गर्ने कुचेष्टा गर्दैछन् यो अति नै निन्दनीय विषय हो। यो घड़ीमा आन्दोलनको नेतृत्व गोजमुमोको हातमा रहेकोले उनीहरूमा सामुहिक रणकौशल तयार गर्ने अनि हरेक रणकौशलले हरेक आन्दोलनको कार्यसूचि सफल पार्नुपर्ने अवस्था देखिएको बताएका छन्। उनले भने, आन्दोलनको कार्यसूचि फ्यातुलो र जनताले नपत्याउने किसिमको भएको हुनाले सरकारले यसलाई खेलाइँचीपूर्ण लिइरहेको छ। आन्दोलन अझ वृहत र जोड़दार रूपमा लिएर जानु पर्ने हुनाले गोजमुमाको प्रमुख दायित्व रहेको हामी महसुस गरिरहेका छौं।
अर्कोतिर, क्रामाकपा आञ्चलिक समितिका सचिव किशोर प्रधानले मोर्चाको गणतान्त्रिक ढङ्गमा चलिरहेको अनशन उठाउनुमा मुख्यमन्त्रीकै हात रहेको बताउँदै गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलनलाई बङ्गाल सरकार अनि प्रशासनले दमन गर्न खोजीरहेको आरोप लगाएका छन्। उनले भने, मुख्यमन्त्री आएर मिटिङ गरेकै राती अनशन उठाइयो। यो सोझो मुख्यमन्त्रीकै आदेश हो भन्ने हामी मान्छौं अनि हामी वामफ्रण्ट सरकारको घोर निन्दा गर्छौं। उनले गोजमुमोको आन्दोलनलाई क्रामाकपाको पक्षबाट नैतिक समर्थन रहेको बताउँदै उनीहरू स्वयं लगायत केन्द्रिय नेताहरू समेत केही दिनअघि अनशनकारीहरूको मनोबल बढ़ाउन बाग्राकोट गएको बताए।
आन्दोलनमा नैतिक समर्थन रहेको भएपनि नीतिगत कतिवटा असुविधाहरू भएकोले उनीहरू गोजमुमोले तयार गरेको कार्यक्रममा सहभागी बन्न नसक्ने बताएका छन्। उनले अहिले उठिरहेको सामुहिक नेतृत्वको कुरा गर्दै यसमा गोजमुमोले नै पहल गर्नुपर्ने बताएका छन्। उनले भने, सामुहिक नेतृत्वमा एउटै पार्टीको नेतृत्व हुनपर्छ चाहे त्यो गोजमुमोले नै किन नगरोस, तर निर्णय भन्ने कुरो सामुहिक हुनुपर्छ। यसर्थ सबै राजनैतिक पार्टीहरू, सङ्घ-संस्थाहरू एक भएर आपसी मदभेद त्यागेर समग्रमा बसेर दीर्घकालीन अनि प्रभावशाली कार्यक्रमको रूपरेखा तयार गर्नुपर्ने बताएका छन्। आज भएको पत्रकार सम्मेलनमा क्रामाकपा केन्द्रिय कमिटि सदस्य मोहन पौड्याल, आञ्चलिक समिति सदस्य सुदन प्रधान अनि शंकर प्रधानको पनि उपस्थिति रहेको थियो।
No ‘Gorkhaland’, iterates CM
SNS, SILIGURI, 20 FEB: At a time when tension is prevailing in the Dooars ~ though the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha has relaxed its bandh for a few days ~ chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said: “Let go of Gorkhaland demand.”
Addressing the inauguration programme of a Food Park at Phansidewa in Siliguri, Mr Bhattacharjee said: “How long would the agitation continue? Don't cry Gorkhaland, Gorkhaland... The demand would never be conceded. We would not be able to do so. Even Delhi would not be able to do that. It is unrealistic and impossible. No body would accept it. Let go of the demand”.
Speaking about the atmosphere needed for setting up industry, the chief minister said: “Peace is a must for industry. Without peace industry cannot be possible. But leaders in the Darjeeling Hills have been creating disturbances here. They are trying to spread unrest to the Dooars and Terai. They would never get those areas. They are even demanding inclusion of Siliguri. They would have to give up the demand for inclusion of the Dooars and Terai. We have informed Delhi that there will be no discussion for inclusion of additional areas. We would not tolerate such a demand.”
The chief minister also highlighted the present situation of the tourism industry in the Darjeeling Hills where hotels have been shut down completely.
“If bandh continues, the people in the Hills would not able to manage their livelihood,” he added. Mr Bhattacharjee today held a meeting with the tour operators in Siliguri and reviewed the situation of the tourism industry. He also held a meeting with administration officials and reviewed law and order situation in the Hills and adjoining areas, and instructed taking of necessary steps to tackle the situation ahead of the Assembly elections.
Mr Bhattacharjee also asked about the present position of state police forces and deployment of Central forces in the trouble-torn areas.
CM gloves off on Gorkhaland
TT, Siliguri, Feb. 20:Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today dismissed the Gorkhaland demand as illogical, questioned the sanity of those seeking to widen territorial reach and ruled out talks until the statehood movement is withdrawn.
The chief minister’s unequivocal assertion, coupled with a renewal of vow to act if vandalism is repeated, was made in Siliguri.
The venue and the choice of words strengthened perceptions that the Left Front government and the CPM have resolved to make the best of the situation by standing by the plains and speaking up against the division of Bengal.
TT, Jalpaiguri/Alipurduar, Feb. 20: The Jalpaiguri police allegedly forced five Gorkha Janmukti Nari Morcha members who were on a fast-unto-death at Bagrakote to get admitted to the district hospital early this morning.
They were administered a bottle of saline each and, after their release on personal bonds a few hours later, returned to their hunger strike.
While the Dooars leadership of the Morcha alleged that the police were rough with the fasting protesters, an allegation denied by senior officials, the party’s supporters once again tried to march to Kumani where their leader Bimal Gurung is camping. But like earlier attempts, this time, too, they were thwarted and 236 of them were arrested for violating Section 144.
Around 1.30am, the five Nari Morcha supporters, who were on fast since February 14, were bundled into an ambulance and taken to the Jalpaiguri district hospital, 80km away.
“Doctors examined all five and administered saline. As their condition was found to be satisfactory, they were released on personal bonds later in the morning,” said the Radharaman Banik, the chief medical officer of health, Jalpaiguri.
Around 1pm, the five women resumed their fast. Morcha central committee member Pradip Pradhan said after the police firing at Sibchu on February 8, the law enforcers were once again trying to create tension. “They forcibly took away the women on fast. They were rough with them and behaved ruthlessly,” Pradhan alleged.
The subdivisional police officer of Malbazar, Arindam Sarkar, denied the allegations. “We brought them to the hospital only after our doctors, who had been monitoring their health on a regular basis, said their condition was deteriorating,” Sarkar said.
In Kalchni’s Gore Line and in Dalsinghpara, 25km away, Morcha marchers on their way to Kumani on the Darjeeling-Jalpaiguri border were stopped.
“We stopped a group of about 300 Morcha supporters and 236 of them were arrested from the two spots for violating Section 144,” said Anup Jaiswal, the additional superintendent of police, Alipurduar.
The prohibitory order has been in force in the Dooars since Gurung started on his “march for Gorkhaland” from the hills on January 18.
मनोज बोगटि, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 20 फरवरी। मुख्यमन्त्री वुद्धदेव भट्टाचार्य मालबजारमा आएर प्रशासनिक धम्की दिनु अनि त्यसै राती अनशन उठाउनुमा बङ्गाल सरकारको ठूलो षढ़यन्त्र रहेको छ। बाग्राकोटको अनशन उठाउनुमा निश्चित रूपले मुख्यमन्त्रीकै हात रहेको छ। उक्त कुरा आज स्थानीय पार्टी कार्यालयमा एक पत्रकार सम्मेलनको आयोजना गर्दै गक्रायुमो केन्द्रिय महासचिव अरूण घतानीले भनेका हुन्। अहिलेको गणतान्त्रिक आन्दोलनलाई बङ्गाल सरकारले अगणतान्त्रिक अनि संत्रासपूर्ण बनाउन खोजिरहेको आरोप लगाउँदै अहिले बङ्गालको वामफ्रण्ट सरकारको साङ्गठानिक शक्ति अनि राजनैतिक धरातल खस्किरहेको बेलामा उनीहरू कुनै हदसम्म पनि गिर्न सक्ने बताएका छन्।
यो केवल आउँदो विधानसभा चुनावको निम्ति डुवर्सको जनताको स्यावासी बटुल्न मात्र वामफ्रण्टले यस्तो नीति अप्नाएको बताउँदै क्रामाकपा वामफ्रण्टको यस्तो नीतिको घोर विरोधमा रहेको जनाएका छन्। उनले सिप्सुमा भएको गोलीकाण्डको घोर विरोध जनाउँदै गणतान्त्रिक ढङ्गमा भइरहेको पदयात्रामा जुन बर्बरतापूर्वक गोली चलाउने कार्य भयो त्यसको विरोध जनाउँदै उनले भने, बङ्गाल सरकार अहिले बर्बरता देखाउने एउटा पराकाष्टा भएको छ। एकातिर, नन्दीग्राम, सिङ्गुर, लालगढ़ अनि अहिले दार्जीलिङ पहाड़ र तराई डुवर्सवासीमा पुलिस प्रशासन र सीआरपीएफको आतङ्क फैलाएर गोर्खाहरूको हक र अधिकारको लड़ाईंलाई पैंतालाले कुल्चने इरादा लिएर उनी मालबजार आए यो अति नै निन्दनीय विषय हो। बरू उनी गोलीकाण्डको जायजा लिनु सिप्सु जानपर्ने थियो। उनले अझ भने, मन अनि सम्पूर्ण राजनैतिक रूपले चरम उग्र अन्ध जातीयता भावना बोकेको बुद्धदेव भट्टाचार्यले मालबजार आएर समग्र गोर्खाहरूलाई लाखेस गर्नु उनले उग्र जातीयतावादको दृष्टिभङ्गी देखाइरहेका छन्।
गोर्खाहरूलाई दुइ नम्बरको नागरिक अनि विदेशी सरह दमन गर्ने कुचेष्टा गर्दैछन् यो अति नै निन्दनीय विषय हो। यो घड़ीमा आन्दोलनको नेतृत्व गोजमुमोको हातमा रहेकोले उनीहरूमा सामुहिक रणकौशल तयार गर्ने अनि हरेक रणकौशलले हरेक आन्दोलनको कार्यसूचि सफल पार्नुपर्ने अवस्था देखिएको बताएका छन्। उनले भने, आन्दोलनको कार्यसूचि फ्यातुलो र जनताले नपत्याउने किसिमको भएको हुनाले सरकारले यसलाई खेलाइँचीपूर्ण लिइरहेको छ। आन्दोलन अझ वृहत र जोड़दार रूपमा लिएर जानु पर्ने हुनाले गोजमुमाको प्रमुख दायित्व रहेको हामी महसुस गरिरहेका छौं।
अर्कोतिर, क्रामाकपा आञ्चलिक समितिका सचिव किशोर प्रधानले मोर्चाको गणतान्त्रिक ढङ्गमा चलिरहेको अनशन उठाउनुमा मुख्यमन्त्रीकै हात रहेको बताउँदै गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलनलाई बङ्गाल सरकार अनि प्रशासनले दमन गर्न खोजीरहेको आरोप लगाएका छन्। उनले भने, मुख्यमन्त्री आएर मिटिङ गरेकै राती अनशन उठाइयो। यो सोझो मुख्यमन्त्रीकै आदेश हो भन्ने हामी मान्छौं अनि हामी वामफ्रण्ट सरकारको घोर निन्दा गर्छौं। उनले गोजमुमोको आन्दोलनलाई क्रामाकपाको पक्षबाट नैतिक समर्थन रहेको बताउँदै उनीहरू स्वयं लगायत केन्द्रिय नेताहरू समेत केही दिनअघि अनशनकारीहरूको मनोबल बढ़ाउन बाग्राकोट गएको बताए।
आन्दोलनमा नैतिक समर्थन रहेको भएपनि नीतिगत कतिवटा असुविधाहरू भएकोले उनीहरू गोजमुमोले तयार गरेको कार्यक्रममा सहभागी बन्न नसक्ने बताएका छन्। उनले अहिले उठिरहेको सामुहिक नेतृत्वको कुरा गर्दै यसमा गोजमुमोले नै पहल गर्नुपर्ने बताएका छन्। उनले भने, सामुहिक नेतृत्वमा एउटै पार्टीको नेतृत्व हुनपर्छ चाहे त्यो गोजमुमोले नै किन नगरोस, तर निर्णय भन्ने कुरो सामुहिक हुनुपर्छ। यसर्थ सबै राजनैतिक पार्टीहरू, सङ्घ-संस्थाहरू एक भएर आपसी मदभेद त्यागेर समग्रमा बसेर दीर्घकालीन अनि प्रभावशाली कार्यक्रमको रूपरेखा तयार गर्नुपर्ने बताएका छन्। आज भएको पत्रकार सम्मेलनमा क्रामाकपा केन्द्रिय कमिटि सदस्य मोहन पौड्याल, आञ्चलिक समिति सदस्य सुदन प्रधान अनि शंकर प्रधानको पनि उपस्थिति रहेको थियो।
No ‘Gorkhaland’, iterates CM
SNS, SILIGURI, 20 FEB: At a time when tension is prevailing in the Dooars ~ though the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha has relaxed its bandh for a few days ~ chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said: “Let go of Gorkhaland demand.”
Addressing the inauguration programme of a Food Park at Phansidewa in Siliguri, Mr Bhattacharjee said: “How long would the agitation continue? Don't cry Gorkhaland, Gorkhaland... The demand would never be conceded. We would not be able to do so. Even Delhi would not be able to do that. It is unrealistic and impossible. No body would accept it. Let go of the demand”.
Speaking about the atmosphere needed for setting up industry, the chief minister said: “Peace is a must for industry. Without peace industry cannot be possible. But leaders in the Darjeeling Hills have been creating disturbances here. They are trying to spread unrest to the Dooars and Terai. They would never get those areas. They are even demanding inclusion of Siliguri. They would have to give up the demand for inclusion of the Dooars and Terai. We have informed Delhi that there will be no discussion for inclusion of additional areas. We would not tolerate such a demand.”
The chief minister also highlighted the present situation of the tourism industry in the Darjeeling Hills where hotels have been shut down completely.
“If bandh continues, the people in the Hills would not able to manage their livelihood,” he added. Mr Bhattacharjee today held a meeting with the tour operators in Siliguri and reviewed the situation of the tourism industry. He also held a meeting with administration officials and reviewed law and order situation in the Hills and adjoining areas, and instructed taking of necessary steps to tackle the situation ahead of the Assembly elections.
Mr Bhattacharjee also asked about the present position of state police forces and deployment of Central forces in the trouble-torn areas.
CM gloves off on Gorkhaland
TT, Siliguri, Feb. 20:Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today dismissed the Gorkhaland demand as illogical, questioned the sanity of those seeking to widen territorial reach and ruled out talks until the statehood movement is withdrawn.
The chief minister’s unequivocal assertion, coupled with a renewal of vow to act if vandalism is repeated, was made in Siliguri.
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| Bhattacharjee in Siliguri on Sunday. (Kundan Yolmo) |
The police firing in Sibchu that killed three persons almost two weeks ago was seen as the first sign that the state government was stepping back from its hands-off policy when law is broken.
“Unless they (Morcha) withdraw the movement, we will not hold any discussion with them. We have informed the Centre about our stand,” Bhattacharjee said at an event to inaugurate a food park in Leusipokhri, 15km from Siliguri.
“It’s time the hill leaders understood that the demand for Gorkhaland is not realistic or logical. The state government will, under no circumstances, accept the demand to divide the state. The Centre, too, is averse to the idea of dividing Bengal,” he said.
Yesterday, Bhattacharjee had said the administration would take “stringent steps” if the party tried to spread its statehood movement to the plains.
Building on the theme, the chief minister said today: “I would like to tell them (Morcha) clearly that they should take their hands off the Dooars, the Terai and Siliguri. Have they gone mad that they are demanding the inclusion of these regions (in the Gorkhaland state the Morcha has been demanding)?”
Criticising the damage of public and private property and arson attacks by the Morcha since the February 8 Sibchu firing, Bhattacharjee said: “We will not tolerate any such attempt in the future.”
The Darjeeling district magistrate had said government property worth Rs 10 crore had been destroyed in the aftermath of Sibchu.
This morning, the chief minister met an eight-member delegation of the Eastern Himalaya Travel & Tour Operators’ Association in Siliguri.
Raj Basu, the chairman of the association’s advisory committee, said: “We told him that the annual turnover in our sector in the north Bengal and Sikkim circuit used to be around Rs 1,500 crore a few years ago. But we have been suffering losses in the past three-four years (because of the unrest in the hills).” Basu said the chief minister “assured us that the situation would improve from March”.
IANS, SIliguri:West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Sunday asked the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) to stop its agitation for a separate state, saying the demand for Gorkhaland will never be accepted. "The GJM leaders should understand that 'We want Gorkhaland' slogans will not bring any result. We can never accept the demand for Gorkhaland. We cannot and will never do this thing," Bhattacharjee told a gathering in Siliguri.
Darjeeling has been witnessing a series of protest and violence over the last few months as the GJM leadership put pressure on the central and the state governments to accept its demand of Gorkhaland.
"Stop the movement in the hills and please allow the process of development to take its course. If this movement continues the people of Darjeeling will starve, as most of the hotels have been closed and the tourism industry is also badly affected," said Banerjee.
The GJM had called several indefinite shutdowns in the hills between 2008 and 2010, severely hitting timber and tourism - the mainstay of the hill region's economy.
Saline break for five on fastIANS, SIliguri:West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Sunday asked the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) to stop its agitation for a separate state, saying the demand for Gorkhaland will never be accepted. "The GJM leaders should understand that 'We want Gorkhaland' slogans will not bring any result. We can never accept the demand for Gorkhaland. We cannot and will never do this thing," Bhattacharjee told a gathering in Siliguri.
Darjeeling has been witnessing a series of protest and violence over the last few months as the GJM leadership put pressure on the central and the state governments to accept its demand of Gorkhaland.
"Stop the movement in the hills and please allow the process of development to take its course. If this movement continues the people of Darjeeling will starve, as most of the hotels have been closed and the tourism industry is also badly affected," said Banerjee.
The GJM had called several indefinite shutdowns in the hills between 2008 and 2010, severely hitting timber and tourism - the mainstay of the hill region's economy.
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| Nari Morcha members back on fast at Bagrakote on Sunday. Picture by Biplab Basak |
They were administered a bottle of saline each and, after their release on personal bonds a few hours later, returned to their hunger strike.
While the Dooars leadership of the Morcha alleged that the police were rough with the fasting protesters, an allegation denied by senior officials, the party’s supporters once again tried to march to Kumani where their leader Bimal Gurung is camping. But like earlier attempts, this time, too, they were thwarted and 236 of them were arrested for violating Section 144.
Around 1.30am, the five Nari Morcha supporters, who were on fast since February 14, were bundled into an ambulance and taken to the Jalpaiguri district hospital, 80km away.
“Doctors examined all five and administered saline. As their condition was found to be satisfactory, they were released on personal bonds later in the morning,” said the Radharaman Banik, the chief medical officer of health, Jalpaiguri.
Around 1pm, the five women resumed their fast. Morcha central committee member Pradip Pradhan said after the police firing at Sibchu on February 8, the law enforcers were once again trying to create tension. “They forcibly took away the women on fast. They were rough with them and behaved ruthlessly,” Pradhan alleged.
The subdivisional police officer of Malbazar, Arindam Sarkar, denied the allegations. “We brought them to the hospital only after our doctors, who had been monitoring their health on a regular basis, said their condition was deteriorating,” Sarkar said.
In Kalchni’s Gore Line and in Dalsinghpara, 25km away, Morcha marchers on their way to Kumani on the Darjeeling-Jalpaiguri border were stopped.
“We stopped a group of about 300 Morcha supporters and 236 of them were arrested from the two spots for violating Section 144,” said Anup Jaiswal, the additional superintendent of police, Alipurduar.
The prohibitory order has been in force in the Dooars since Gurung started on his “march for Gorkhaland” from the hills on January 18.
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