Siliguri, April 28: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders today stuck to their plan of an indefinite hunger strike in Darjeeling district and the Dooars from May 1 after the Bengal government refused to alter its position and give them permission to hold political programmes in Siliguri.

The Siliguri subdivisional office has been selected as one of the venues of the fast.

The final round of talks on the Morcha demand was held at the Circuit House here. Jalpaiguri divisional commissioner B.L. Meena led the administrative side.

“The Bengal government seems determined to stop us from pursuing a democratic movement,” Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said after the meeting. “We have no other option but to start an indefinite hunger strike in the hills, Siliguri and the Dooars to protest against the government’s decision.”

The leaders, who had earlier expressed faith in chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, today made it clear that the trust does not extend to his government. “We do not have faith in the state government, which is trying to thrust the separatist label on us. They are trying to force us to resort to violence, but we will continue to be patient in pushing for our demands,” Giri said.

The Morcha is demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland comprising the Darjeeling hills, Siliguri and parts of the Dooars.

The divisional commissioner said: “keeping in mind the ensuing panchayat polls, the Morcha could not be allowed to convene a public meeting in Siliguri till May 18”.