GJM assures free transit for Sikkim traffic on NH 31A

ROSHAN GIRI MAKES ASSURANCE IN GANGTOK
GANGTOK, 13 Feb: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha general secretary, Roshan Giri, who is in Gangtok to attend the first general meeting the GJM in Sikkim [held today], assured that National Highway 31A was open for Sikkim traffic and out of the purview of the Darjeeling bandh underway in the neighbouring State.
In fact, Mr. Giri contended today that the GJM had never extended the bandh to the highway to begin with. It is another matter that vehicles coming in from the Darjeeling district to Sikkim on 08 Feb were pasted with posters announcing that the bandh had been extended to Sikkim traffic as well, and on 09 Feb, GJM picketers at Rangpo [on the West Bengal side] had turned back all vehicles except SNT buses and trucks.
Now, however, with Mr. Giri’s assurance made in Sikkim today, traffic from Sikkim should receive unhindered transit on the highway on portions passing through Darjeeling. This should come as a huge relief to all since supplies had already started running low in markets here and commuters who needed to travel had only the option of travelling in West Bengal police escorted convoys which journeyed from Rangpo to Siliguri only once a day. Mr. Giri also asserted today that its cadre has not indulged in any arson on the highway and accused the West Bengal State government of creating tension in the Hills.
Also today, Janmukti Chalak Sangh, Sikkim-unit, had petitioned the GJM high command through Mr. Giri to exempt Sikkim from the purview of the bandh since such a gesture would further strengthen the bond between the people of Sikkim and the Darjeeling hills.