West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called for peace in Darjeeling where an indefinite strike called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha entered the eighth day, as she left for The Hague where she will attend a UN meet.
"We appeal to everybody to maintain harmony," Ms Banerjee said. Union home minister Rajnath Singh spoke to the chief minster yesterday for an update on the situation in Darjeeling.
Ms Banerjee is on a three-day trip to the The Hague. "Here, duties have been evenly distributed to everybody. There is no need for anyone to worry," she said.
The funeral of the three people killed in Saturday's violence will take place today after a silent march to the centre of the popular hill town, called by Bimal Gurung, was held yesterday. The protesters carried the bodies of the three men. The Morcha claims the men were party activists who had died in Saturday's police firing.
Darjeeling has been largely calm since yesterday, barring stray incidents of attempted violence.
The parties in the region will meet tomorrow to chalk out the future course of action.
The protests by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha and the subsequent political crisis started after the West Bengal government announced that Bengali language will be made compulsory in schools. Protesters have been demanding for statehood.
Share This Post