Kalimpong, Jan. 6: The Citizen Rights Forum of Kalimpong has urged the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha against calling indefinite bandhs in the hills to avoid causing inconvenience to people.

In a letter to Morcha president Bimal Gurung, the forum, however, said it was okay to call a bandh for a limited period on pressing issues. “Helplines should be set up during bandhs to assist people in emergencies,” said the letter signed by forum president N.P. Dixit and its chief coordinator J.N. Pradhan.

The forum also suggested that NH31A, the main road link between Sikkim and the rest of the country, should be kept outside the purview of bandhs at all times, especially since the Gorkhaland movement needs the help of the neighbouring state. “Educational institutions must also be exempted from bandhs so as not to hamper the studies of our children,” the letter said.

The forum was formed by citizens of Kalimpong last year following fears that the basic rights of the hill people could be at risk in the wake of then raging turf war between the Morcha and the GNLF. The organisation had taken out a rally against the politics of bandh being indulged in by both parties at that time.

However, this is for the first time since the start of the Morcha-led movement for Gorkhaland that the forum has openly voiced its opinion against bandhs.

The forum has made it clear that it is completely behind the Morcha in its struggle for Gorkhaland. It has also offered a number of suggestions on ways to strengthen the movement and ensure its democratic character.

Talking to The Telegraph, Dixit said the forum chose to make public the letter after it failed to get any response from Gurung. “We had submitted the letter to the Morcha president some 12 days back, but are yet to get a response. Hopefully, the party will mull over some of suggestions in the interest of both the common people and the movement.”

Dixit said the forum’s advice was not unsolicited because Gurung had sought the guidance of its members during their earlier meeting with him. “We had gone to meet him after prior appointment, but couldn’t do so because of his sudden engagement. We had left behind the letter in his office.”

Source: The Telegraph

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