The Telegraph

Darjeeling, Dec. 18: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has decided to allow supporters on hunger strike to receive medical attention if they so desire, even as a protester has been hospitalised in Kalimpong.

The Morcha move aims to create a congenial atmosphere for the fourth round of tripartite talks scheduled to be held here on Monday. The decision is also likely to defuse the tension to a large extent across the hills.

In Kalimpong, Khadga Bikam Subba, the local unit president of the Janmukti Karmachari Sangathan (JKS), was shifted to the subdivisional hospital after he developed respiratory problem and had to be put on oxygen. He was the third protester to be hospitalised in Kalimpong.

Roshan Giri, the Morcha general secretary, said: “Keeping in mind the coming tripartite meeting, we have decided to allow those critically ill to receive medical attention if they so desire.”

Even though the condition of all the 21 protesters in five places of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, Siliguri and Kalchini have been termed critical, not many have agreed to receive medical attention.

Members of the JKS, comprising government employees and teachers associated with the Gorkha Primary Teachers’ Organisation and Janmukti Secondary Teachers’ Organisation have decided to hold a rally across the hills at 10.30am tomorrow.

“We appeal to the employees of the bank and post offices to attend the rally,” said Raju Pradhan Himanshu, the joint secretary of the JKS. Banks, post offices and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, apart from emergency services like conservancy and water work of the civic bodies, have been kept out of the purview of the strike. Work at the banks and post offices are likely to be affected for a couple of hours starting at 10.30am tomorrow.

Madan Tamang, the president of the ABGL, today alleged that the Morcha had already gone into an understanding with the state and Centre on an alternative arrangement. “Ajay Maken, Union minister of state for home, told Parliament yesterday that an alternative set-up is being worked out,” Tamang claimed.

Warning of widespread backlash, Tamang said: “I can already feel an undercurrent. The government might use force but this will have devastating consequences as the aspiration of statehood cannot be compromised.”

Giri today said the party would discuss only Gorkhaland and nothing else during the tripartite meeting.

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