Students begin hunger-strike

Students begin hunger-strike
Statesman News Service

DARJEELING, June 26: Seven students of the Municipal Boys’ High School went on a hunger strike in Darjeeling today under the banner of the Gorkha Jana Vidyarthi Morcha (GJVM), the GJMM students’ wing.

The relay hunger strike, which would continue till 5 July is for the separate state of Gorkhaland. The agitators also intend to protest against the recent atrocities on the students.

“Gorkha students have been beaten, humiliated and deprived of their legitimate rights in the plains. We want to express our dissent through the strike,” Mr Amit Yonzon, vice-president of GJVMstated. The students have volunteered for the cause. “We want Gorkhaland” comes the quick reply when asked about their motive to go on the hungerstrike. “We have no future under the West Bengal government. Only Gorkhaland can fulfill our aspirations. This has in no way affected our studies,” Laxman Prasad said.

On students getting involved in politics and that too on such a sensitive issue, Mr Kiran Subba, a teacher of Ramakrishna Shiksha Parishad said, “The students are making a constitutional demand. The political outlook may be due to the collective movement for Gorkhaland. But these students are not associated with any political party. It is just the cause they are supporting."

The hunger strike is being observed in the three hill sub-divisions, Siliguri and the Dooars.

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Teachers ask, kids volunteer for fast
OUR CORRESPONDENT - The Telegraph

Darjeeling, June 26: Seven Class IX boys started a relay hunger strike here today and hundreds of schoolchildren brought out rallies across the Darjeeling hills even as the Gorkha Janmukti Vidyarthi Morcha tried to justify the role of students in the movement for a separate state.

All seven are from Municipal Boys’ High School and will be on fast till 11am tomorrow when the next batch takes over. They reiterated what the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has been harping for some time.

“If we get Gorkhaland, our future will be better. The situation in Bengal is hopeless,” said 16-year-old Laxman Prasad in front of the district magistrate’s office where the fast is going on.

The protesters, all within the 16-19 age group, considered themselves “lucky” for having been selected for the agitation.

“Our teachers asked us who all wanted to take part in the hunger strike. Quite a lot of us volunteered. We were selected for the first batch and another group from our school has been chosen for another day. I am lucky to have got a chance to fast for Gorkhaland,” said Prasad.

Students from different schools will take turns in groups of seven to participate in the relay hunger strike in Darjeeling till July 5 as announced by Bimal Gurung, the president of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. Simultaneous fasts will also be held in Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik.

The students claimed that they had the support of their parents. “My mother who depends on my father’s pension supported my decision. I am part of the hunger strike because this is a question of my identity too,” said 16-year-old Prasit Rai, who comes from Badamtang tea garden, 15km from Darjeeling town.

The Vidyarthi Morcha, which is spearheading the agitation, justified the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s decision to involve the students in the hunger strike. “The Gorkhaland we are talking about is for these children. They must be aware of the demand. Fruits given on a platter does not have much charm. All agitation, including the country’s freedom movement, has seen active involvement of students,” said Keshav Raj Pokhrel, secretary of the Vidyarthi Morcha.

Pokhrel also cited the example of the All Jharkhand Students’ Union in creating Jharkhand.