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Protests paralyse India's Darjeeling Hills
Indian's scenic Darjeeling Hills shut down again on Tuesday, as the Gorkha community continued its indefinite strike to demand autonomy in the region.
- Agencies
- Published: 12:10 June 17, 2008
Kolkata: Indian's scenic Darjeeling Hills shut down again on Tuesday, as the Gurkha community continued its indefinite strike to demand autonomy in the region.
The Gorkhas, who are ethnic Nepalis, a part of West Bengal to be created into a separate state called ‘Gorkhaland'.
On Tuesday, hotels were shut down and streets were deserted. Local residents were asked to stock up on food.
"We have asked people to have enough stocks for at least 45 days as we will continue to agitate, irrespective of the hardship," Bimal Gurung, the protest leader and head of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Gorkha People's Liberation Front).
The area's tea and tourism industries have been greatly threatened by the strike. A tea industry official warned exports of premium Darjeeling tea could fall 20-25 per cent this year.
The ruling communist government, which has repeatedly denied the Gurkha's demands, threatened serious action if the strike was not lifted.
However, experts say the central and state government are unlikely to give in to the demand.
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