There was no solution in sight to the vexed Darjeeling problem with the ruling Trinamool Congress on Tuesday boycotting the all-party meeting called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and the latter deciding against joining a similar meet called by the State Government on June 22.
Despite pressure from the other Hill outfits like Gorkha National liberation Front, CPRM, Jana Andolan Party and others to call off the indefinite strike, the Morcha decided against doing so and said it would continue its struggle for a separate Gorkhaland State.
The GJM also remained non-committal on the suggestion made by the other Hill outfits to come out of the Gorkhaland Territorial Authority. “There were suggestions resign from the posts in GTA and State Assembly but it is not being discussed for the time being,” said a Morcha leader.
JAP leader Harka Bahadur Chhetri and GNlF wanted the Morcha to immediately come out of the GTA and State Assembly, insiders said.
The Tuesday’s meetings took place close on the heels of the State Government submitting a report to the Centre on Darjeeling crisis where it blamed the GJM for creating trouble by inciting violence leading to damage of Government properties and a death.
The GJM however refused to accept the charges and was likely to meet Union Minister Kiron Rijiju was currently at Sikkim capital Gangtok to place its side of story. The Morcha which wanted the Centre to intervene was likely to inform New Delhi about what it called “Government-sponsored terror on common people” that snuffed out three lives in a police firing a few days ago.
Meanwhile, even as the strike reached its tenth day on Tuesday with eyebrows furrowing for fast diminishing stocks of fuel and food, spiraling prices and black-marketing reports of stray violence came from various parts like Kalimpong, Kurseong where government vehicles were attacked, sources said.
“There is less food and banks are closed on regular basis. It is becoming difficult for the citizens to run households. Though we want Gorkhaland things should be sorted out through dialogues,” said adding all the sides should immediately come together and sort things out for the betterment of the people.”