Remain indoors during Mamata's Darjeeling visit, urges GJAC

The Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee (GJAC) Friday called a "Ghar Bhitra Janta (people to remain indoors)" agitation in northern West Bengal's Darjeeling Hills Sep 2-3 coinciding with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's visit to the region.

The decision, taken at a meeting of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-led GJAC here, follows the Banerjee government's stiff opposition and stern security measures in the hills ever since the GJM renewed the movement for a Gorkhaland state.

However, officially the GJAC did not concede that the virtual shutdown call was linked to Banerjee's trip.

"We are not informed. We are not bothered about who is coming to the hills", said GJM leader and GJAC convenor Raju Pradhan.

On Thursday, Banerjee had announced she would go to Darjeeling Monday and appealed to GJM to withdraw its shutdowns and ensure the hill development body, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), functioned properly.

Banerjee is likely to visit Kalimpong sub-division of Darjeeling district in connection with a felicitation programme organised by members of the Lepcha community Sept 3.

The GJAC also announced a 24-hour relaxation in the ongoing "Ghar Bahira Janta (people on the streets)" agitation Saturday.

"The people can buy their provisions Saturday. Shops, markets, banks, post offices will be open, and transport will ply," said Pradhan.

Meanwhile, the GJAC announced that a high level delegation from the hills including senior leaders, the three GJM lawmakers and former MPs would go to Delhi Sep 1 to meet central leaders to press for Gorkhaland.

Trouble started afresh in the hills after the GJM intensified the Gorkhaland movement following the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) green light to a separate Telangana.

Two GJM activists attempted self-immolation and of them, one succumbed to his injuries.

The Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress state government has ruled out any division of the state.

The Gorkhaland movement for a new state - to be carved out of parts of Darjeeling and its neighbouring Jalpaiguri district - has left many dead over the past two-and-half decades, besides affecting the region's economy based on tea, timber and tourism.