GNLF to begin separate demonstration... separate picketing movement

MANAS R BANNERJEE, SNS,  SILIGURI, 1 August 2017: As chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today appealed to political leaders to restore normalcy in the Hills, the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) has decided to begin a separate 'picketing' movement from 3 August, in demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland.

A separate movement led by the GNLF would effectively break the 'unity' among the Hill-based political panics and pro-Gorkhaland organisations that has become the hallmark of the fresh round of the statehood agitation.  Several parties and organisation grouped under under the Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee (GMCC) have so far continued to put up a united face ever since the movement intensified in the  second week of

June.

"We are not breaking the unity and the GMCC. But it is t rue that a conspiracy is being hatched to break the unity as well as the GMCC," GNLF general secretary Mahendra Chhetri said.

When asked to comment on GNLF activists' separate road blockade protest in Mirik today, Mr Chhetri said that his party would begin picketing across the Hills from 3 August.

'We will strengthen our movement by formulating strategies in the party's central committee meeting by following resolutions taken over the statehood movement in the GMCC meeting held in Delhi today," he said.

According to him GNLF leaders who are in Delhi right now, will also make plans to lead the party's movement for Gorkhaland.

It may be noted that the GNLF, under Subhas Ghisingh, spearheaded a bloody two-year agitation for Gorkhaland in the late eighties in the Hills that saw around 1,200 people getting killed.

Political observers said the state government machineries are keeping a close eye on the Hill situation and monitoring the alleged differences of opinion among Hill-based political patties, mainly among the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM), Jan Andolan Party (JAP) and the GNLF.

An observer said he fears that the Hill people will face an "alarming situation' if clashes begin among Hill-based political parties, particularly between the GJMM and the GNLF.

'The separate statehood movement will turn into a critical state of affairs if the unity in the GMCC breaks and clashes among political parties begin," he said, adding that such a situation may ultimately help the state in interfering and curbing the over all movement.

Expressing concern over the ongoing situation, chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who was in North Dinajpur today, specifically pointed out that people have no food to eat, students have no education, the transportation system had collapsed, and the tea and tourism industries were shut down. She appealed to the political leaders in the Hills to bring normalcy hack.

"Bring back normal life and peace in the Hills until the fate of the movement is settled," she said.