Ground Report

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s declaration that all vehicles including those plying from Siliguri to the Hills have led to much tension with drivers complaining of harrasment by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha cadres. Speaking to the press in Darjeeling, All India Gorkha League President said, "Gorkha Janmukti must review the Gorkhaland vehicle registration scheme. I go to the extent of saying that they should revoke it forthwith. Due to the Dashai festivities, there are fewer vehicles plying between the Hills and Siliguri. Nothing good has come out of the GL scheme. Our own people coming and leaving the hills are made to suffer. GL numbers are also increasingly creating friction between the people of the hills and the plains. It is better that the scheme be revoked and we go back using WB plates. The people and the police in the hills have now started hunting down vehicles with GL numbers. The moment vehicles with GL numbers are found, they are vandalised. This can only lead to retaliatory violence. The West Bengal Government is offering patronage to associations like Amra Bangal and Bangla O Bangla Bhasa Bachao Samity and these associations are fueling racist violence against us. Why is the West Bengal Government offering a blind eye to the entire issue. It wants things to boil out into a racist uprising between the people of the hills and the plains, thereby declaring Darjeeling Hills a troubled zone and handing it out the paramilitary forces. This will effectively breakdown the Gorkhaland movement. Hence, instead of falling into this trap laid by the West Bengal Government, I think Gorkha Janmukti Morcha should withdraw GL number."