THE HILLS of Darjeeling are restless again. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, (GJM) a fledgling organization has posed a serious challenge to Subhas Ghisingh supremo of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF). The Morcha has started a fast-unto-death programme, which entered the fifth day today.

 

The Morcha’s fast-unto-death agitation demands the removal of Subash Ghisingh as head of the Gorkha Hill Council and an assurance from the Centre that the parliamentary standing committee will visit the hills and interact with the people. The Morcha is against Sixth Schedule status for the hills.

 

Tension has been mounting in the hills following the fast unto death programme launched by the Morcha. Two participating members were removed to hospital after they developed kidney and respiratory problems and nine more had to be given medical attention. The fast-unto-death is on in Darjeeling, and the two sub divisions -- Kalimpong and Kurseong. State government doctors are on stand by to attend to the participants if they fall ill.

 

Bimal Gurung, the Morcha president has told the media in North Bengal that the Sixth Schedule bill had to be scrapped because 19 of the 21 members of the delegation from the hills who met the standing committee, scrutinising the draft, had rejected the status. According to him only the CPI (M) and the GNLF are in favour of Sixth Schedule status.

 

That things are going from bad to worse in the hills became evident after Pradip Pradhan, the convener of the Morcha in Kurseong, threatened that he and 10 party supporters would immolate themselves if the state and Centre fail to give credence to the on going agitation. The Morcha, which is just four months old, has been able to mould public opinion in the hills in quite a significant manner after years of dominance by Ghisingh and his powerful GNLF. Large sections in the hills have switched allegiance from the GNLF to the Morcha.

 

The Morcha supporters have also resorted to setting up blockades at alternate hours on several roads except NH31A because it would hamper vehicular movement to Sikkim. The blockades will continue for an indefinite period, according to media reports emanating from North Bengal. A new agitational programme will be announced, on Wednesday (Feb 13).

 

Sensing trouble brewing in the hills, the Left Front government has sat up. The state government has been pussy footing with Ghishing ever since the hill council was formed after years of bloody strife, which killed over 300 people in the mid eighties on the demand for a separate Gorkhaland.