Now GJM talks of a 'revolution' in Darjeeling hills

In a hardening of stand, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) Tuesday threatened to launch, after Oct 20, an "intense agitation" that could take the shape of a "revolution" to realise its demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland.

The GJM, which has been spearheading the movement for Gorkhaland to be carved out of parts of northern West Bengal, has announced a relaxation in the agitation till Oct 20 in the wake of union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde's directive that it should withdraw the shutdown to pave the way for tripartite talks.

The central government, the state government and the GJM are to be involved in the discussions.

"The Gorkhaland movement cannot be wiped out by any force. Gorkhaland is our 'Constitutional' right and we will achieve it," GJM president Bimal Gurung posted on social networking site Facebook.

He also told reporters here that despite his party sticking to a democratic movement, the central and the state government have not paid any heed.

"So long we had said we will stick to a democratic movement. We have never deviated from it. But this state government will not pay heed to such movements."

"So from now on we will have recourse to an undemocratic movement. This state government has stooped so low. We are prepared for any consequences," Gurung said.

"There will be a revolution in the hills," he said.

"The people of Gorkhaland must be ready for intense agitation from the 20th October," he posted on Facebook.

"The Centre and the State government must respect the democratic agitation done by the people of the Hills and Dooars for Gorkhaland."

He said the GJM would not go for "bilateral talks", but tri-partite discussions.

"We also understand that the Gorkhaland issue can be solved only through dialogue," he said.

The Mamata Bannerjee government in the state has been cracking down on the GJM by arresting its leaders, sympathizers and fund-givers since the outfit stepped up the movement late July after the centre gave the go-ahead to Telangana.