The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) today slammed the Modi government for ignoring the Gorkhaland crisis. They said they were disappointed with Centre's role and questioned Darjeeling's BJP MP SS Ahluwalia's absence. The BJP MP has not visited the city once since the crisis broke out.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, thousands of GJM protesters today took out huge rallies to observe 'black day' in Darjeeling to protest the death of three its activists in police firing.

The GJM activists marched with the coffins of the three activists who were allegedly shot dead in the police firing in Darjeeling's Singmari on Saturday.

In view of the protest march, the administration had deployed heavy security forces across the city and there were no reports of fresh clashes.

Shouting pro-Gorkhaland slogans, GJM activists started the rally from Chawk Bazar on the Hill Cart Road in Darjeeling.

SILENT MARCH FOR PEACE

Earlier in the morning, many people also took out a silent march demanding peace to be restored in the hills.

In a fresh statement, GJM chief Bimal Gurung said that if police try to stop their movement, it will create trouble. "We will continue our movement, if police tries to stop us, it will create trouble," Bimal Gurung said.

While GJM leader Amar Singh Rai termed the situation in the hills as "very very volatile" and claimed a separate state of Gorkhaland is the biggest priority for them and rebuffed any possibility of discussions with the Bengal government.

"The situation is still very volatile. A dialogue has to be opened. But I know that our party will not have a dialogue with the TMC-led state government alone," Rai said.

RAJNATH SINGH APPEALS FOR CALM

Home Minister Rajnath Singh has appealed for calm. He said, "I appeal to the people living in Darjeeling and nearby areas to remain calm and peaceful. Nobody should resort to violence," he said, adding that he has spoken to CM Mamata Banerjee, who has apprised him of the situation.

"In democracy like India resorting to violence would never help in finding a solution. Every issue can be resolved through mutual dialogue," Rajnath further said.

The Gorkha activists on Sunday blocked roads and staged demonstrations at many places in the Dooars in support of the GJM's call for 12-hour strike in the region as the agitation in the hills spilled onto the plains.

SINGMARI VIOLENCE

The violence in Darjeeling took an ugly turn in Singmari after a massive rally towards Patlebas was halted by the security forces on Saturday afternoon. The GJM's supporters attacked security forces with bricks and bottles in a worst violence since the flare-up on June 8.

Scenes across Darjeeling and nearby Ghoom resembled a battlefield with charred buses and police vehicles, and bricks strewn on the road. At least four vehicles, including three of the police, were torched while eight vehicles were vandalised.

The officials claimed that nearly 36 of the security personnel were injured while trying to contain the violence, and denied that they opened fire at the protesters.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also backed the police claims and accused the GJM of having links with terrorists and insurgent groups in the northeast.

She claimed that there is a "deep rooted conspiracy" behind the revival of the Gorkhaland movement.

The GJM announced an indefinite general strike from Monday in the hills encompassing Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts and the Dooars (foothills of the Himalayas covering stretches of Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar district) to oppose the government's purported decision to make study of Bengali language compulsory in state-run schools and to press for a separate state of Gorkhaland.

With inputs from agencies

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