First hints of bandh withdrawal

Statesman News Service KURSEONG, June 10: Having brought life to a standstill in the Darjeeling hills, the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha organised a public meeting at Kurseong today. The first indication of a relaxation in the bandh soon, also came today. Addressing the meeting, the GJMM chief, Mr Bimal Gurung urged the people of the hills to have patience for the greater cause of Gorkhaland. He also assured to fetch the Gorkhaland state by 10 March, 2010. Cautioning party supporters against individual political ambition Mr Gurung said that the movement launched by the GJMM is the last battle and “ we shall achieve our target by hook or by crook.”Stating that the party would relax the bandh sometime soon to minimise the inconvenience of the people, the GJMM president said: “The GJMM is against communal tension between Bengalis and the Nepalis.Our fight is for our land and the Bengali community living in the plains should understand this. Our fight is not against the Bengalis, it is against the state government.”Social activist Ms Medha Patkar, who was supposed to attend the rally, could not reach Kurseong today.