Kolkata: In a bid to send West Bengal’s chief minister a stern message, an opposition politician has asked tourists not to make plans to visit the Darjeeling hill station in the near future, as his party plans to launch a long-term agitation in demand of a separate state.

Speaking to Gulf News over the phone Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief and head of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Bimal Gurung said, “We are forewarning tourists, before making plans to coming to Darjeeling, as we are preparing to start a long agitation over the demand for Gorkhaland.”

He said once the agitation starts, his party should not be responsible for tourists being held up.

“We will stop only when the separate state of Gorkhaland is given or this region is merged with Sikkim. We do not want to be a part of West Bengal,” Gurung added.

GJM has called a 12-hour strike on September 28, over remarks by Banerjee of having given Rs40 billion (Dh2.2 billion) to GTA in the last five years for the development of the hills. She said little had been utilised.

Meanwhile, a division bench of the Calcutta High Court, presided by Chief Justice G.C. Gupta, directed the West Bengal government on Tuesday to ensure that normal life is not affected in view of the strike called by GJM on Wednesday.

The bench while responding to the petition by moved by Trinamool Congress parliamentarian and advocate Idris Ali also observed that the court can start a ‘suo Motu’ contempt proceeding against GJM as strikes are illegal and unconstitutional and against existing judgements’ of the Indian Supreme Court.

Darjeeling has seen major uprisings over the last few years on accord of separate statehood demand.

In September 2013, the region witnessed a long period of strikes stretching over 40 days, leading to shortages of basic commodities for the local people.

Even tourists were stuck in hotels without amenities including water, leading to a major crisis.

However, the current tension could not have come at a worse time as the hill station is expecting a large influx of tourists in the upcoming holiday season.

“She (Banerjee) should not have accused Gurung at this juncture as it will only affect our livelihood. She indirectly accused him for theft has led to this crisis,” Subrbh Lepcha, an owner of a hotel, said.

With the law and order situation in Kashmir becoming increasingly volatile, thousands of tourists from all over India were planning to visit Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong, along with Sikkim among other destinations, during the months of October to January.

“This statement by him will surely have a fallout as many who were about to decide on coming to the region may back out. We may also see some cancellations,” said Pradeep Lama, secretary, Darjeeling Association of Travel Agents.

The state government now armed with the order from the High Court is going all out to ensure that GJM is not able to enforce the strike. Huge security arrangements have been made and police are monitoring the area even as senior ministers from the government are rushing in to ensure normality.

“We will do everything to ensure that normal life is not hampered in the region,” said Gautam Deb, state minister for tourism.