Date:26/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/26/stories/2008102659810900.htm

National

Gorkha Janamukti Morcha threatens to intensify agitation for separate State

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) leadership that earlier this week put on hold its “non-cooperation movement with the West Bengal government” threatened on Friday to intensify its stir for statehood if the outcome of the second round of tripartite talks involving the Centre, the State government and the GJM scheduled for next month is not favourable to it. “We shall intensify our movement if our demand for a separate State is not met with a positive response,” GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told The Hindu over telephone from the Dooars region in north Bengal. “Our deadline for the creation of a separate Gorkhaland State is 2010 and our movement to achieve statehood will continue in a peaceful and democratic manner towards meeting it.”

The GJM leadership reiterated that its non-cooperation stir that included replacing the words “Government of West Bengal” with “Government of Gorkhaland” and the letters “WB” with “GL” on number plates of vehicles had been suspended in view of the talks.