The Scowling Hills
Darjeeling continues to scowl. Bimal Gurung, leader of the secessionist Gorkha Janmukti Morcha had said that he would ensure that agitations for a separate state would continue during the visit of chief minister Mamata Banerjee to the hills of North Bengal. And he is delivering on his promise. Throughout Didi’s visit earlier this week, Gurung organised crippling strikes and rallies and even a boycott of the planned meeting of the Gorkha Territorial Administration. An angry Mamata, who has said that she was “rough and tough” has vowed to crush the movement with “strong action” against the Morcha. In the midst of all this, the Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has told GJM leaders visiting Delhi that tri-partite talks would be held to sort out the matter. This has further annoyed Mamata who has ruled out talks unless strikes are called off. Last month’s military intelligence to the Union Defense Ministry about the movement being fuelled from across the porous Indo-Nepal border is being looked into. Top BSF officials speaking to Outlook have indicated that secret meetings in Siliguri to discuss the Gorkha issue are being planned. The current situation also looks set to stir up some major changes in the region, including the possibility of introducing border guards in the heretofore open borders.