Darjeeling heats up over introduction of Bangla in syllabus

A decision by the West Bengal Government to introduce Bengali as a fourth language (optional) subject in schools across the state has triggered a massive protest in Darjeeling, a district where almost everyone speaks Nepali. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), a registered political party led by Bimal Gurung, is spearheading the movement for 'Gorkhaland', a separate state for the majority Nepali-speaking Gorkha community. Gurung's party has called for a month-long strike to press for their demand. It comes in the peak tourist season in summer.

---

Also Read- Dead parades in Darjeeling amid unrest

---

Darjeeling, a district in North Bengal, adjoins ‘Siliguri Corridor’ or ‘Chicken’s Neck’, a 20km wide corridor linking India's seven northeastern states to the mainland. It also shares border with Sikkim in the north and international borders with Nepal in the west, Bhutan in the east and Bangladesh in the south. Ethnic groups in northeast India have extended their support to the cause of Gorkhaland. These groups are pressing for separate states themselves which they demand be carved out of Assam and Tripura. Indian supporters of the separatist Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) group shout slogans while demonstrating during an indefinite strike called in Darjeeling on June 19, 2017 AFPThe groups are People’s Joint Action Committee of Bodoland Movement (PJACBM) in Assam and Indigenous People’s Front of Twipra (IPFT) in Tripura. Assam's PJACBM has been demanding formation of separate state ‘Bodoland’ for the Bodo populace. In a statement, the PJACBM, spearheaded by All Bodo Student’s Union (ABSU), backed the demand for Gorkhaland and blamed the ongoing unrest in Darjeeling on the “autocratic rule” of the Mamata Banerjee government as well as Delhi's “utter negligence towards the problem”.

---

Also Read- India police fire tear gas to curb Darjeeling protests

---

“We condemn the unprovoked atrocious act on the part of the Bengal police and their indiscriminate torture on the unarmed civilians in the streets of Darjeeling,” the statement said, claiming that the recovery of firearms from GJM office was a “plant” by Bengal police. “As the member of the National Federation for New States (NFNS) we hereby express our solidarity and support towards the Gorkha people’s movement for Gorkhaland,” it added. The PJACBM has also urged the demonstrators and the Bengal government to maintain peace. It also sought Delhi's “immediate intervention” and asked the government to concede to the demand for Gorkhaland to permanently restore peace in the region. The All Bodo Students’s Union (ABSU) was formed in February 15, 1967 to press for the demand of a “Bodoland for the Bodos”. Delhi paved way for creation of Telangana state in 2014 but had “maintained deliberate indifference” towards people’s aspirations for separate state in other parts of the country, the statement claimed. Indian soldiers patrol in Darjeeling on June 18, 2017, following a day of clashes with supporters of the separatist Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) group AFPKokrajhar of Assam, which is also the heartland of ethnic Bodos, sit on India’s Chicken’s Neck. Indigenous People’s Front of Twipra (IPFT) President NC Debbarma said Delhi, GJM, and West Bengal government should sit for talks. He condemned daubing GJM leaders like Bimal Gurung hooligans. But it may not be that easy to bring Gurung to the table. In the 1980s, Darjeeling was rocked by bloody violence for a separate state demand. At that time, more than 1,200 people had died. The Gorkhas eventually ended the movement after being promised a degree of self rule in the region. Gurung is the successor of the 1980s agitation leader Subhas Ghishing and said to be more hardline than his predecessor.

---

Also Read- Tourists flee as Darjeeling troubles boil over

---

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit out at GJM, saying: “From where are they getting their support? Their advantage is that it (Darjeeling) is a hill area and there are borders with other states and international borders.” “Only a terrorist and not a common man can do this,” she said alleging, “We have clues that this has terrorist connections. They (GJM) have connections with underground insurgent groups of the Northeast.” Mamata requested the insurgent groups to not support the GJM. In Tripura, CPI-(M) State Secretary Bijan Dhar lashed out at IPFT President Debbarma pertaining to the separate Twipraland demand. “Calling for an indefinite period of railway and National Highway blockade to press for the demand of ‘Twipraland’ is a serious issue and IPFT has the PMO (Prime Minister’s Office) backing,” alleged Dhar.