Darjeeling: In a climbdown, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on Thursday said it has limited its shutdown demanding Gorkhaland in northern West Bengal's Darjeeling Hills, beginning on Saturday, to 96 hours.
It had earlier called for an indefinite shutdown.
"We had called for an indefinite shutdown from Saturday. But we have now restricted it to 96 hours. There is Eid on August 8," GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said.
Following the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) endorsement for a separate Telangana state, to be carved out from Andhra Pradesh, the GJM announced that it would intensify its movement demanding a separate Gorkhaland.
The GJM wants parts of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts of northern West Bengal to be made part of the new state.
GJM supremo Bimal Gurung has already resigned as the chief executive of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) - an autonomous and elected hill development council.
The GJM leadership is slated to meet Union Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Friday with its demands.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has blamed the Congress-led UPA for disturbing peace in the Hills and ruled out any division of the state.
The Bangla and Bangla Bhasha Bachao Committee and the Shiv Sena have called a 48-hour shutdown in Siliguri beginning Thursday to counter the GJM's shutdown call.
It had earlier called for an indefinite shutdown.
"We had called for an indefinite shutdown from Saturday. But we have now restricted it to 96 hours. There is Eid on August 8," GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said.
The GJM wants parts of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts of northern West Bengal to be made part of the new state.
Advertisement
The GJM leadership is slated to meet Union Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Friday with its demands.
Advertisement
The Bangla and Bangla Bhasha Bachao Committee and the Shiv Sena have called a 48-hour shutdown in Siliguri beginning Thursday to counter the GJM's shutdown call.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Congress' Organisational Reshuffle Ahead Of 4 Assembly Polls Congress Promises 1 Lakh Permanent Jobs In Haryana Ahead Of Assembly Polls Theft At Official Residence Of Congress MLA Jaivardhan Singh, Cash Stolen: Cops Parents Gave Names Of Interns, Doctors To CBI In Kolkata Horror: Sources How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death 20 Coaches Of Sabarmati Express Train Derail In UP, No Casualties Two Sisters Returning From Court Run Over By Car In UP: Cops India Sends 1,400 kg Anti-Cancer Drugs To Syria In Humanitarian Assistance Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.