Jaswant Singh stresses strategic importance of creating Gorkhaland

Singh also took the opportunity to hit out at the Congress-led Central Government, accusing the ruling party of indulging in vote bank politics by announcing the creation of Telangana in close proximity to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

As the indefinite bandh in Darjeeling entered its fourth day, Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jaswant Singh on Tuesday stressed the strategic importance of granting Gorkhaland the status of a separate state and accused the Congress of giving in to the Telangana state demand for the sake of votes.

“The demand for Gorkhaland is the oldest, most valid and most important demand for a new state because Darjeeling is the only part of the country which shares four international borders. Understand the importance of this fact—on one side is China, on the other are Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. Chumbi Valley is also not far. Darjeeling is on top of what is known as the Chicken’s Neck, or the North Bengal corridor. Today if there is any prospect to stop the Bangladeshi infiltration into India, it is the creation of Gorkhaland,” Singh said.

Saying that the situation in Darjeeling was a matter of great national concern, Singh said the agitation was of “high national priority”.

HC orders steps against bandh supporters

Aug. 7: Calcutta High Court today said the people of Darjeeling “should not be harassed and steps should be taken against bandh supporters”, while in the hills Bimal Gurung declared that the shutdown will continue because the “public mood is against lifting” the strike.

The court said 10 guidelines set earlier this year should be followed by the Darjeeling administration so that life in the hills is not affected. But in Darjeeling, the Yuva Morcha, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s youth wing, announced a series of protests, a clear indication that the hill party was in no mood to relent.

Bengal governor blames Telangana issue for Darjeeling unrest

Kolkata: West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan Wednesday blamed the decision to create a separate Telangana for the current unrest in Darjeeling Hills following the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) intensifying its separatist movement.

"What we want is peace...we want to keep Bengal united...whether you negotiate or what you do is the matter for the government to decide. We had a good thing on, but the Telangana came and I think that has made a big issue...," Narayanan told the media here.

Following the Congress and the United Progressive Alliance's endorsement of statehood to Telangana, the Darjeeling hills in north Bengal have been on the boil after the GJM intensified their movement demanding Gorkhaland - to be carved out of parts of Darjeeling and its neighbouring Jalpaiguri district.

Life in Darjeeling Hills has been crippled following an indefinite shutdown call by the GJM.

While a GJM supporter succumbed to his injuries after he tried self-immolation, more than 130 of the party activists, supporters and leaders have been arrested.

With the Mamata Banerjee led Trinamool Congress government maintaining a tough stand ruling out any division of the state, the GJM leadership has been camping at Delhi meeting the central leadership over the statehood issue.

The Banerjee regime has been blaming the Congress and the UPA for creating unrest in the country by the Telangana decision.

IANS

Passport heat on Giri and Gurung

MONALISA CHAUDHURI

Calcutta, Aug. 7: Police have apparently begun the procedure to impound Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Roshan Giri’s passport and are considering a similar action against Bimal Gurung, in a move that is being seen as the government’s efforts to pile pressure on the party.

Gurung and Giri, who are leading the statehood agitation, had procured their passports last year under the Tatkal scheme. Sources in the home department said Darjeeling police had sent an adverse report on Giri’s passport to the regional passport office in Calcutta.