Education strike called off
Siliguri, Feb. 7: The Gorkha Janmukti Vidyarthi Morcha has postponed its indefinite education strike in the district, which it had called on Friday to protest the police lathicharge on its supporters here a day earlier. However, the Morcha ban on movement of government vehicles in the hills will continue.
“Guardians and school authorities requested us to withdraw our strike… we decided to postpone (the strike),†Vidyarthi Morcha Keshavraj Pokhral told a news conference at Dagapur today.
“We have nothing against the residents of Siliguri, but the state government tried to foil our movement applying force… we will stick to our decision to not allow any police or government vehicle to ply in the hills unless we get permission to hold a meeting here,†Pokhral added.
The student outfit will also continue with its relay hunger strike in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, Siliguri and the Dooars. Pokhral also came down heavily on Bengal urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya, who had said yesterday that the administration would look after all educational institutions up to Sukna should they decide to remain open during the strike.
“Being a minister why is he not bothered about the students of the hills,†Pokhral said. Most of the schools in the hills, however, are shut for winter and will open only at the end of this month.
In Kalimpong, Morcha president Bimal Gurung said the women’s wing will take out candlelight processions from 4pm to 7pm every Saturday and Sunday.
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