DARJEELING HILLS/SIKKIM: GJM blockade: Sikkim sends SOS to Bengal

FROM INDIAN EXPRESS

Cut off from the rest of the country by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s blockade of NH-31A, the Sikkim government has asked Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to take steps for ensuring movement of goods and essential commodities.

Since June last year, the hill state has been cut off from the plains on at least four occasions.

“From what we know, only ambulances are plying on the highway. We have kept the Centre informed about the situation. We hope the Bengal government will be able to ensure that the highway remains opened to traffic at the earliest,” a senior official in Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s secretariat told The Indian Express on Tuesday.

While the highway has been blocked on several occasions due to landslides, the GJM’s movement for a separate Gorkhaland state has meant blockades at the pivotal Sewak More near Darjeeling. In July last year, the Sikkim government had approached the Supreme Court with an appeal that the Army be deployed to clear the highway blockade.

A Bench headed by Justice Altamas Kabir had castigated the Bengal government while hearing petitions filed by Sikkim residents on NH-31A blockade. The Bench had expressed surprise that in times of crisis when essentials like medicine, fuel and food were not reaching the people, the government was showing “helplessness” in taking steps against those “holding the country to ransom”.

“They (states) leave their responsibilities to courts. The court has to pass an order which the state should do by itself. Then it is said there is interference and judicial overreach,” the Bench had said while directing the Centre and the governments of West Bengal and Sikkim to ensure smooth flow of traffic on the NH-31A.

The Bench had shot down suggestions from the Sikkim Government that Army should be asked to clear the blockade and said that if everything had to be carried out by the Army, it was better to impose Army rule there.

Besides the state governments, the Bench also directed the GJM, Jan Jagran Manch, anti-Gorkhaland groups like Amra Bangalee and Jan Chetna to ensure that the highways are not blocked.

Tripartite talks offer does no good

While announcing that the third round of tripartite talks between the Central government, West Bengal government and the GJM would be held on August 24, Union Home Secretary asked the Morcha to call off the indefinite bandh that has crippled life in the Hills once again.

The Morcha, however, rejected the request and said that the bandh had been called primarily to protest the police action against GJM supporters in Kurseong last week. “Our demand is for the transfer of IG (North Bengal) K L Tamta, ASP (Headquarters) A Chaturvedi and SDPO (Kurseong) Partha Paul as well as unconditional release of all GJM supporters arrested by the police,” said Morcha’s press secretary Binay Tamang.

On Monday, the Centre had indicated that it would appoint a special interlocutor for Darjeeling. Sources in the state home department said the special interlocutor, if appointed, would conduct negotiations during the upcoming talks.

Meanwhile, on the second day of the bandh, all shops and business establishments remained closed and attendance at state and Central government offices in the district remained minimal.

“Sikkim remained cut off today as well. No vehicles are moving on NH-31A. Tea plantations remained closed. All important intersections are being picketed by GJM supporters,” senior district officials said.

Darjeeling District Magistrate Surendra Gupta said only essential services were available. “Everything else is pretty much shut down. We are monitoring the situation. No untoward incidents or clashes were reported,” Gupta said.

In Kolkata, state chief secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti said guardians of students studying in the boarding schools of Darjeeling have been asked to contact the district administration in case they face any difficulties in bringing their wards back home.