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Gurkha group demands India state
By Subir Bhaumik
BBC News, Calcutta



Darjeeling is a well-known tourist destination in India
Supporters of a Gurkha political group have set up road blockades in India's eastern hill town of Darjeeling demanding a separate state.

The Gurkha Liberation Forum (GLM) opposes an autonomy plan for the region finalised by the government.

It is a breakaway faction of the Gurkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) that controls the local council.

The GNLF fought for a Gurkha state for seven years until it signed an agreement with the Indian government.

The 1988 agreement led to the creation of the autonomous Darjeeling Gurkha Hill Council with Mr Subhas Ghishing as its head.

Now the breakaway faction GLM opposes a new autonomy package for the region finalised by the Indian and the West Bengal government.

"We want a separate state for the Gurkhas who are the majority population here," said GLM chief Bimal Gurung.

Mr Gurung is a former confidante of the GNLF supremo Subhas Ghishing who has been the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council chairman since 1988.

Protest

On Monday, as Mr Ghishing returned from Delhi having finalised the autonomy package with the federal government, hundreds of Mr Gurung's supporters set up blockades on all roads leading to Darjeeling.

Mr Ghishing avoided an immediate confrontation when he said he would rest "for a few days" in a resort in Pintail in the foothills, about 70km from Darjeeling.

Bimal Gurung said he would call for an indefinite strike in Darjeeling from Wednesday if the autonomy plan was not dropped and if Mr Ghishing did not resign as chairman of the Darjeeling Hill Council.

But Mr Ghishing insisted that the future arrangement for Darjeeling will revolve round the autonomy plan.

"This provision has worked in India's north-eastern states and it should help us fulfil the aspirations of the people of Darjeeling," said Mr Ghishing.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7252318.stm