Students begin hunger-strike

FROM THE STATESMAN

DARJEELING, June 26: Seven students of the Municipal Boys’ High School went on a hunger strike in Darjeeling today under the banner of the Gorkha Jana Vidyarthi Morcha (GJVM), the GJMM students’ wing. The relay hunger strike, which would continue till 5 July is for the separate state of Gorkhaland. The agitators also intend to protest against the recent atrocities on the students. “Gorkha students have been beaten, humiliated and deprived of their legitimate rights in the plains. We want to express our dissent through the strike,” Mr Amit Yonzon, vice-president of GJVMstated. The students have volunteered for the cause. “We want Gorkhaland” comes the quick reply when asked about their motive to go on the hungerstrike. “We have no future under the West Bengal government. Only Gorkhaland can fulfill our aspirations. This has in no way affected our studies,” Laxman Prasad said.

On students getting involved in politics and that too on such a sensitive issue, Mr Kiran Subba, a teacher of Ramakrishna Shiksha Parishad said, “The students are making a constitutional demand. The political outlook may be due to the collective movement for Gorkhaland. But these students are not associated with any political party. It is just the cause they are supporting.” The hunger strike is being observed in the three hill sub-divisions, Siliguri and the Dooars.