In a significant development, people’s representatives from both Sikkim and northern West Bengal have come together to demand tribal status for at least 12 left-out communities in the region.
Activists from the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) have been hoisting black flags across Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and surrounding areas since 5 August to protest the delay in implementing a Permanent Political Solution for the region.
Charkhole is a village that has been abundantly blessed by nature. On one side, you get to enjoy the majestic view of the Kanchenjunga, and on the other, you get to witness the magical, extensive stretch of the valleys.
The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) has taken an in-principle decision not to allow setting up of fresh hydropower projects in the hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong.
The plan for dwellings alongside the hillslopes must of necessity be vetted more carefully than has been manifest.
Along with Mr Khanal, those who left the party today included central committee leaders Norden Lama and Praveen Rahapal, and Kalimpong district committee office secretary Saran Pradhan.
According to Mr Pradhan, they have handed over the project to be run by an agency based in Kolakata in agreement under the Annual Maintenance Control (AMC), as expert hands are needed to operate it.
Morcha (Bimal Gurung camp) leader from Kalimpong Anil Lopchan also said they condemned the statement made by Mr Lepcha.
Notably, both the Bimal Gurung and Binoy Tamang factions of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha are politically in league with Mamata Banerjee's party, but they have not yet finalised the candidates.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has planned to appeal to the state government to change the dates of the lockdown in the interest of education tourism centering Siliguri.
