THE prolonged agitation in the Darjeeling hills has been suspended for two months. It is because of the assurance from the Central government of a tripartite meeting to be held soon. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has softened its stand and called off the indefinite strike in the last six weeks. The Gorkhaland State Joint Action Committee (GSJAC) has also suspended its joint action programme for the next two months. Schools and colleges in the hills will reopen on September 13. All this is said to be the GSJAC’s response to Union Home Minister S.K. Shinde’s positive approach. There will however be a dharna in the three sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong from September 13 to 20. GJM President Bimal Gurung has stated that the tripartite talks are expected to be held by October 20.
Union Home Minister S.K. Shinde has clearly stated that no new state of Gorkhaland can be created immediately. He reiterated that the solution to the Gorkhaland problem would be a time-consuming process. But Bimal Gurung is happy that a dialogue would commence soon. He condemned the hostile and confrontationists attitude of the West Bengal government and expected its cooperation in taking the tripartite talks forward. It seems that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been upstaged on the issue and has faced flat from the GJM leader. But the lull in the storm and postponement of the agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland is certainly in the interest of the West Bengal government. While Mamata Banerjee has been aggressive in blaming the Centre for causing the ferment in the hills, there appears to be a shared view taken by the Centre and the state. Bimal Gurung is also likely to have climbed down under joint pressure.