Gorkhaland News

The demand for a separate Gorkhaland state is not the demand of today. The queen of the mountains, Darjeeling has been bled many times over this. Know what this issue has to do with the upcoming Bengal elections.

Ahead of the 2021 assembly elections in West Bengal, the Union Home Ministry has written a letter to the West Bengal government and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) to attend a meeting scheduled to be held on October 7, 2020, at 11 am under the chairmanship of G Kishan Reddy, MoS, Home Affairs. The Binoy Tamang led faction of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha questioned the intent of the BJP-led Central government for calling the tripartite meeting now ahead of elections and claimed that the ruling party at the Centre want to win the confidence of the people of the hills. “We Gorkhas always welcome any meeting on Gorkhaland. But, why is the meeting being convened now ahead of the elections? We feel that the BJP wants Gorkhaland to be a poll issue to win elections in the hills in the 2021 polls,” said Anit Thapa, chairperson, Board of Administrators, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.

In Darjeeling by-election, Neeraj Tamang Zimba of BJP defeated GJM leader Binoy Tamang, who fought as an independent candidate with TMC support.

The GJM has been running a campaign for the establishment of a separate state (Gorkhaland) outside of West Bengal.

Gurung's counsel claimed before a bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan that the state was proceeding in a "biased manner" against GJM members.

The Supreme Court restrained Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government to arrest suspended Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung in connection with Gorkhaland protests case.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday left for North Bengal to discuss the current situation in Darjeeling hills with all political parties there tomorrow.

The home ministry has ordered withdrawal of as many as 1,000 paramilitary personnel, including 300 women, deployed in Darjeeling to maintain law and order during the agitation for a separate Gorkhaland state.

In an audio message, Gurung said the central government should immediately begin tripartite talks on Gorkhaland.  

Days after his expulsion from the GJM for alleged involvement in "anti-party activities", ousted Gorkha leader Anit Thapa on Tuesday led a silent rally in Kurseong township near here demanding peace.

Since August 15, picketing has been withdrawn by the GJM from various parts of Darjeeling hills. 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday held talks with political parties of the Darjeeling hills at the state secretariat in Kolkata and requested them to withdraw the indefinite shutdown.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday held talks with political parties of Darjeeling hills and requested them to withdraw the indefinite bandh, which entered the 76th day.

The GJM chief reiterated that he would not compromise on the demand for Gorkhaland.

We hope for a positive outcome of the meeting. The central government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) both are prepared to help," BJP state President Dilip Ghosh said.  

The GJM has expressed its willingness to attend the August 29 talks to resolve the Darjeeling stalemate.

The indefinite shutdown in Darjeeling hills entered its 62nd day on Tuesday.

The north Bengal hill town has been witnessing an indefinite agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland for over a month.

A century-old community hall and a TMC party office in the Darjeeling hills were set ablaze by pro-Gorkhaland supporters, police said today as the indefinite shutdown for a separate state entered its 35th day.

He also defended BJP leader Roopa Ganguly over her controversial statement on women safety, saying she was referring to the "poor" law and order situation in West Bengal.