All-party Meeting in Darjeeling, GJM vice president Arrested

Darjeeling : An all-party meeting called by the GJM is being held in the Darjeeling hills, with the TMC, CPI(M), Congress and GNLF staying away, as the indefinite bandh entered the 10th day on Monday, paralysing normal life. The all party meeting is being held to determine the future of the movement to demand Gorkhaland on the lines of Telangana and in view of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday declaring it illegal and to call it off within 72-hours. The Chief Minister had also mentioned the Calcutta High Court order to the state government to maintain normalcy in the hills. The GJM president Bimal Gurung, General Secretary Roshan Giri and other top leaders were present at the meeting. The all-party meeting is being attended by the BJP, All India Gorkha League, and small parties Hill Congress, Gorkha Nirman Parishad and the CPRM among others. 

Altogether 16 GJM supporters, including top ones, were arrested since last night, police sources said. GTA councillor Kalyan Dewan was picked up from Kalimpong as also GJM trade union leader Sumir Tirua who were among the 16 arrested taking the total number of arrests to 184. Superintendent of Police Kunal Agarwal said that another five companies of the CRPF would be arriving in Darjeeling from Assam to bolster the five companies already there. The GJM has ruled out negotiations with the state government and insisted on talks only with the Centre.