Darjeeling unrest: 43 GJM members resign from GTA

At least 43 Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) members resigned from the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) on June 23.

Bimal Gurunj, GJM chief said, "Indefinite strike to continue. All-party meeting postponed to June 29. We will burn GTA agreement on June 27."

The GJM has offered a 12-hour "window" to the schools in the Darjeeling hills to evacuate their students safely to Siliguri and Rongpo.

An indefinite bandh was called in the hills by the GJM on June 15.

The boarding schools of Darjeeling are facing a harrowing time due to the shut down with supplies running out and the vacations which are about to commence shortly.

The indefinite shutdown has also hit hard the famed tea industry with the premium quality 'second flush' tea leaves going waste causing heavy losses to the garden owners and putting at stake the livelihood of more than 2 lakh tea workers. 

Darjeeling is home to 87 tea gardens and the ongoing shutdown has pushed them to the brink. The tea garden owners feel that they will be losing 45% of their yearly revenue.