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Hill talks: Students’ on hunger strike for positive outcome

Statesman News Service

DARJEELING, Nov. 11: Fourteen students began a relay hunger strike in Darjeeling today under the banner of Gorkha Jana Vidyarthi Morcha for a successful outcome of the second tripartite meeting on Gorkhaland.

The students, who are from the Rama Krishna Siksha Parishad in Darjeeling, would observe the 48-hour long hunger strike from where it will be taken up by students from other schools and would continue till the tripartite meeting.

“Students have been brought to the forefront because Gorkhaland is their future. The hunger strike will continue till the tripartite dialogue,” said GJVM president Mr Kismat Chettri.

Students have also been entrusted with the responsibility of creating pressure on AIGL president Mr Madan Tamang to prove the “secret meeting” allegations on GJMM.

Also, the deadline issued by the GJVM to take action against some unidentified goons who allegedly flashed pistols at a students’ rally gheraoing the AIGL leader’s house on Saturday, ended today. On Thursday all schools will remain closed to protest against the incident.

Internal exams in all schools have been postponed till the tripartite meeting to ensure active participation in rallies, demonstrations and public meetings.

Today, students gheraoed the AIGL office for more than an hour shouting slogans demanding Mr Tamang to prove the allegations against the GJMM or quit politics. The office was closed and heavily guarded by police personnel.

© 2008 The Gorkhaland Chronicle.