Another constituent quits GJAC

It is the second constituent to quit the GJAC after the All India Gorkha League walked out on August 17 demanding that the GJM resign from the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration,just a day after the formation of the GJAC.

Apart from GJM,the other six remaining constituents of the GJAC are BJP,Gorkha Taskforce,CPRM,Bharatiya Gorkha Rashtriya Parisangh,Gorkha Rashtriya Nirman and Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League.

GJM president,Bimal Gurung,had said three days ago that the Gorkhaland agitation would be continued,even if it was to be carried on by the outfit alone.

Also,in a Facebook post on Wednesday,he had said,“The day I leave Gorkhaland it would mean my life would end.”

The GJM had said Wednesday that it has sought opinion in writing on four points from 147 organisations in the hills after which the future course of action would be decided Friday.

Schoolkids continue agitation

With normal life remaining paralysed,school children held rallies and took out processions on the third day of their five-day programme,despite a Calcutta High Court order that students should not be allowed to participate in political rallies. The number of arrests remained at over 800,with no further arrest in the last two days.

PDS godowns sealed

District Food Controller Baidyanath Sarkar Thursday said three PDS godowns in the hills were ordered to be sealed after it was noticed that food grains were being pilfered and distributed to the people. He said that the 11 free food distribution outlets in three hill subdivisions of Darjeeling,Kurseong and Kalimpong would be raised to 30. He,however,admitted that few people were taking the free food,blaming it on threat by the GJM.