West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to call-off the indefinite shutdown of Darjeeling. Failure, Banerjee warned, would invite “stern action” from the State Government.
Armed with a High Court order and without naming the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), Banerjee said the shutdown was “illegal and unconstitutional”. Such whimsical actions would not be tolerated.
The GJM, which is controlling the newly formed Gorkhaland Territorial Administration in the hills, revived the demand for Statehood, following the Centre’s decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.
The party is observing indefinite strike in Darjeeling since August 3. Normal life has now been affected for eight consecutive days.
While transport have been taken off the streets; outstation students and tourists have been asked to return back home.
“Enough is enough. We have waited for eight days hoping that good senses will prevail. I give them 72 hours to withdraw the bandh, failing which we will take strong action,” she told reporters at Writers’ Buildings.
In an oblique criticism to GJM leadership, the Chief Minister said the Bandh supporters are denying people from the public distribution facilities and development of the region.
“They are not even allowing tea plantations to access fuel send their produce to auctions,” Banerjee said.
“We are not going to tolerate disruptive activities any more,” she added.
Tea Industry
Though kept outside the shutdown, absence of transport has impacted the tea estates in Darjeeling.
According to industry sources, nearly eight lakh kg of tea are stock-piled over the last seven days as there is no way to reach auction centres in Siliguri in the foothills and Kolkata.
Further, factories are running out of fuel required to process the plucked leaves.
This might lead to closure of the factories and estates. Darjeeling has over 80 tea estates.
Upholding Constitution
Upholding the Constitution, the Chief Minister said, was her prime duty. Further, the Calcutta High Court in a recent order has also asked the State Government to restore normalcy in Darjeeling.
According to her, the State Government knows about the source of funds of the GJM and is aware of their wrong-doings. If necessary, “(their) wings would be clipped”, she warned.
Since the imposition of the shutdown, the State Government has arrested several top-rung GJM leaders and their supporters. Old criminal cases of several senior leaders have been re-opened and are being probed.
Gurung’s response
Meanwhile, GJM President Bimal Gurung demanded that the Chief Minister “withdraw her comments”; otherwise the party would opt for a people imposed curfew.
“The Chief Minister has to withdraw her comments and the ultimatum. She does not know what she is saying,” he told in an interview to a private television channel.
According to Gurung, people have been spontaneous in support of the movement. Attempts to deploy force would see bloodshed.
“If she does not withdraw (her ultimatum), we will impose a janata (people’s) curfew. Everybody will remain confined to their homes and no one will come out,” he said.
GJM MEET
A day after the Chief Minister served an ultimatum , the GJM, on Sunday invited all political parties to join a meeting on August 12.
Addressing a press conference at Darjeeling, GJM leader Raju Pradhan said the meet has been organised to discuss the ongoing situations in the hills.
According to him, all the political parties in the hills including the Congress, the Trinamool Congress, the Rashtriya Congress, the GNLF, the CPI(M) have been invited at the meet.
Pradhan added that his party would continue its dharna (protests) in the hills. The GJM has also imposed people’s curfew on August 13 and 14.
abhishek.l@thehindu.co.in
ayan.pramanik@thehindu.co.in