Bandh in plains opposing tripartite agreement on Darjeeling

Jalpaiguri/Siliguri (WB), Jul 18 (PTI) With the
tripartite agreement to be signed Monday to pave the way for
setting up of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, the
new hill council in Darjeeling in the eastern Indian state of
West Bengal, a 48-hour bandh is being observed in the plains
to oppose it.
The shutdown has been called by plains-based
organisations Amra Bangali, Jana Jagaran and Jana Chetana
protesting the move.
Private cars and buses were off the roads, and shops
and markets were closed in Siliguri, the plains subdivision of
Darjeeling district, official sources said, adding the
situation was similar in neighbouring Jalpaiguri district's
Malbazar and Alipurduar areas.
Work in tea gardens in the Terai and Dooars, which lie
across Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts was affected, the
sources said.
The bandh is being supported by Akhil Bharatiya
Adivasi Vikas Parishad, which opposes inclusion of Dooars and
Terai in the GTA.
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Surya
Kanta Mishra has said that opposition parties were not
consulted prior to signing of the agreement.
Mishra, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in
the Assembly, said the nomenclature Gorkhaland Territorial
Administration was misleading and confusing and was bound to
create disunity in the Darjeeling hills.
The tripartite agreement on the Darjeeling hill
authority between the Centre, West Bengal government and
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha would be signed Monday.