Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung on Wednesday threatened to intensify the movement for a separate Gorkhaland and urged tourists not to visit Darjeeling as they might be inconvenienced.
“An indefinite bandh of the government and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) offices has been called. The movement for Gorkhaland will be intensified,” he said.
Gurung also said he would resign from the post of GTA chief executive shortly. He, however, added that GJM MLAs will not resign from the West Bengal Assembly.
“I will not welcome the tourists as they may face problems. There will be protests and strikes in the hills,” he added.
State Tourism Minister Gautam Deb slammed the GJM chief for his statement. “Darjeeling is not a property of anybody. He (Gurung) should not make such statements. No one is above the law,” he said.
Meanwhile, the GJM-led shutdown in the Darjeeling hills entered day three today with rallies being taken out to demand a separate Gorkhaland State and police patrolling troubled areas to quell any violence.
Most shops in and around Chowkbazar and Mall Road in the hill town were closed. Police was on high alert with patrolling under way in several areas. No untoward incident was reported till afternoon.
GJM supporters had turned violent and pelted stones at the police when they were stopped yesterday.