After Rajnath Singh's Appeal, GJM Suspends Darjeeling Bandh

New Delhi: Hours after Home Minister Rajnath Singh appealed to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to call off their indefinite shutdown in the Darjeeling Hills for a separate Gorkhaland state, the Morcha announced on Tuesday evening that they will suspend the bandh from 6 am on Wednesday.

"After Rajnath Singh's appeal, we had a discussion with senior leaders, including GJM chief Bimal Gurung, and decided to withdraw the shutdown from 6 am tomorrow (Wednesday)," GJM Assistant General Secretary Jyoti Rai said on Tuesday.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh had earlier on Tuesday said in a statement that in a democracy, dialogue is the only way out to resolve any problem and solutions can be found through restraint and mutual dialogue within the legal ambit.

"I appeal to the GJM and its leader Bimal Gurung to withdraw the ongoing bandh and to help create a conductive atmosphere for allowing normalcy to return to the area, particularly in view of the festival season," the statement said.

He had also directed Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba to convene an official level meeting to discuss all related issues.

The indefinite shutdown demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland has been on for 104 days.

Reacting to the GJM's decision, state Tourism Minister and Trinamool leader Gautam Deb said the central government has provided a face saver to GJM chief Bimal Gurung. "More than 80 per cent of the shops and markets in the hills have already opened up defying Gurung," he said. 

On Monday, with normalcy returning to Darjeeling hills, the government had decided to lift the restrictions on use on internet services, which was imposed on June 18.

With inputs from PTI