Darjeeling Hills shutdown not indefinite, only 96 hours: GJM

In a climbdown, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Thursday said it has limited its shutdown demanding Gorkhaland in northern West Bengal's Darjeeling Hills, beginning Saturday, to 96 hours.

It had earlier called for an indefinite shutdown.

"We had called for an indefinite shutdown from Saturday. But we have now restricted it to 96 hours. There is Eid on August 8," GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said.

Following the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance's endorsement for a separate Telangana state, to be carved out from Andhra Pradesh, the Darjeeling Hills has been on the boil, with the GJM announcing that it would intensify its movement demanding a separate Gorkhaland.

The GJM wants parts of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts of northern West Bengal to be made part of the new state.

GJM supremo Bimal Gurung has already resigned as the chief executive of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) - an autonomous and elected hill development council.

The GJM leadership is slated to meet Union Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde Friday with its demands.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has blamed the Congress-led UPA for disturbing peace in the Hills and ruled out any division of the state.

The Bangla and Bangla Bhasha Bachao Committee and the Shiv Sena have called a 48-hour shutdown in Siliguri beginning Thursday to counter the GJM's shutdown call.