Even as West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee ruled out dissolution of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and division of the state, life in the Darjeeling Hills remained paralysed for the third day in response to the 72-hour shutdown called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM).
After the resignation of GJM chief Bimal Gurung as the chief executive of the GTA -- an autonomous and elected hill development council --Banerjee said in Kolkata there was no question of dissolving the GTA or dividing the state.
“There is no question of dissolving the GTA. It was formed through a tripartite agreement. Moreover, the GJM had agreed to it,” said Banerjee, adding that “Darjeeling is part and parcel of Bengal... There is no question of division”.
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Spurred by the UPA’s decision to endorse statehood for Telangana, the GJM declared it would intensify the movement and announced an indefinite shutdown from Saturday for the creation of Gorkhaland, a state to be carved out of parts of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts of northern West Bengal.
GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said, “She has the right to say whatever she wants, but Gorkhaland was never a part of Bengal. Bengal, but only reorganisation of the state.”u00a0
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