Calcutta, July 24: The indefinite strike called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today entered Day 40.

Nearly 30 years ago, the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) which was spearheading the statehood agitation then, had called a " chalis din, chalis raat" (forty days, forty nights) "pahar bandh" (closure of hills).

For the past three decades, the 40-day continuous strike has been the most-talked subject with reference to the statehood agitation and many in the hills had felt that such complete shutdown would never be repeated. During the July-August-September agitation of the Morcha in 2013, the party did close the hills for 44 days but in a staggered manner.

As the continuous strike record is set to be broken, The Telegraph compares the two strikes:

Starting Date

GNLF: February 10, 1988

Morcha: June 15, 2017

Leader at the helm

GNLF: Subash Ghisingh

Morcha: Bimal Gurung

Strike run-up

GNLF: The strike was announced well in advance, giving people enough time to stock rations.

Morcha: An immediate "indefinite strike" was announced around 11am on June 15 when police started raising Gurung's office at Patlebas in Darjeeling, provided little time for the common people to be prepared.

Cause

GNLF: The party, while announcing the strike, had claimed that it was to oppose police atrocities. Ghisingh, in 1989, however, clarified that the 40-day strike had been called over the nomenclature of the autonomous set-up that he had agreed during a meeting with then Union home minister Buta Singh and CPM leader Harikishen Singh Surjeet in New Delhi on January 12, 1988. Ghisingh wanted the word "Gorkha" for the new body while the Centre and state leaders had stressed the word "Darjeeling".

Ultimately, the body was named Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC). Ghisingh also wanted some areas in the Terai to be brought under jurisdiction of the new body.

Morcha: The hills were simmering over the alleged imposition of Bengali language on hill schools. Clashes broke out between police and Morcha supporters in Darjeeling on June 8, 2017, less than 200 metres from Raj Bhavan where chief minister Mamata Banerjee was holding a meeting of the Bengal Cabinet.

On June 15, 2017, police raided Gurung's party office at Patlebas and the party called an immediate indefinite strike. The contours have changed now with both the Morcha and an all-party committee called the Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee calling it a strike for a single point agenda of Gorkhaland.

Govts' response

GNLF: As it appeared later that the strike had been called not just against police atrocities but also on the hill body's name and area, a communication channel was always open with the Centre and state during the strike period.

Morcha: The state has categorically ruled out any division of Bengal. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has said she is open for a dialogue but for restoration of peace. The Centre has also maintained a stoic silence so far.

Impact on life

GNLF: Even though a settlement was at sight during the strike, the state government continued with raids and arrests. Even though people had enough time to stock rations, there was much hardship.

Communication channels were poor and villages would empty of men even if someone called out that CRPF was coming to raid. The first flush of Darjeeling tea was affected. Education was also badly hit during the violence even through the 40-day strike coincided with the fag end of the winter vacation of the hill schools.

Morcha: There is no sign of a settlement as yet. People are running out of liquid cash. Even though some amount of rations are available, communication has been hit with the Internet ban. Schools have been badly affected and there has been complete washout of the second flush Darjeeling Tea. Incidents of arson are being reported almost every day.

Solution

GNLF: Ghisingh claimed that the final agreement came through on July 29, 1988. The state agreed to transfer about a dozen mouzas from the Terai to the new administrative body of the hills.

The 28-month long bloody agitation, during which around 1,200 people died, came to an end with the signing of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council Accord on August 22, 1988, in Calcutta.

Morcha: Gurung and other hill parties are stating that they will only discuss the one point agenda of Gorkhaland.