Two-day bandh postponed in Terai-Dooars

Responding to the state governments appeal,the Joint Action Coordination Committee a forum of 37 outfits including Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha has deferred their two-day bandh in Terai and Dooars region.

The decision was taken on Tuesday during a meeting with representatives of the Joint Forum Action Committee and North Bengal Development Minister Gautam Deb at Writers Buildings. The committee members,however,said they have only postponed the bandh,and not withdrawn it.

We have postponed our two days bandh that was scheduled to begin on April 18. We have not called off the bandh. The state government has promised that our demands,which include addition of Terai and Dooars in Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA),are being sympathetically considered by the High Power Committee, Sutra Munda,leader of the Joint Action Coordination Committee,told reporters here. We were never in favour of a bandh. We had been forced to call the strike. We will discuss the issue with our leader John Berla and later we would announce the fresh date of the bandh,if the situation demands so, Munda said when asked what would be their next plan of action if their demands are not met.

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We have noticed that restriction was imposed by police on us and we were not allowed to hold meetings. Therefore,we sought permission from the state government to hold meetings at places of our choice, Munda said.

Responding to the agitation of Adivasi Vikash Parishad against inclusion of Terai and Dooars in GTA,Munda said they were opposing just for the sake of doing so. We strongly feel development will take place only if the areas are included in GTA, he said.

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