GJM softens, relaxes bandh for 60 hrs

In a softening of its stance, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on Sunday decided to send a four-member team to Kolkata to open a dialogue with the state Government on their demands, while relaxing their indefinite bandh in the Darjeeling Hills for 60 hours.

A second team will leave for Delhi on Monday, said GJM general secretary Roshan Giri, in order to talk to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, leader of Opposition L K Advani and BJP president Rajnath Singh.

Giri said the 60-hour breather from the bandh in Kurseong and Kalimpong will start from 6 pm on Sunday and last up to 6 am on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had renewed the invitation for talks on January 18 without any pre-condition, but the GJM had been insisting that the talks be held only in Delhi where the CM could be present. The GJM had begun the bandh on June 16, demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland.