West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerje has declared the indefinite bandh call given by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha as illegal and had set a 72-hour deadline to call off the bandh. Or else, she said, they will have to face action. Talking tough in Kolkata, Mamta Banerjee ruled out division of the state. Saying enough is enough, she said she had tolerated them for eight days and they should not force her to take strong action. Claiming that the Morcha had become unpopular in the hills for forcibly enforcing the bandh leading to harassment and hardship to the people there, she said she has some constitutional obligations. She said there is a High Court order to ensure normal life in Darjeeling. Asked whether her government would hold talks with the Morcha she said, that there is no difficulty in holding talks if they withdraw the bandh.
The Gorkha Janumukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung has alleged that the State Government is trying to suppress the demand for Gorkhaland and democratic movement. He has threatened a ‘janta curfew` if this deadline is not withdrawn. He said, people will remain indoors in that case. He said the Morcha is not afraid of ‘oppression by the State Government.
Fallowing the dead line set by Mamata Banerjee, security has been further beefed up in the hills of Darjeeling district. The situation in Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong is peaceful on the eighth day of the indefinite bandh called by the Morcha to press for the creation of Gorkhaland. The operations of three Darjeeling-based TV networks resumed since this evening following the verification of documents by the District Administration. 150 persons have been arrested in different cases of violation of law so far.