GTA calls off Darjeeling Bandh after stern warning from CM Mamata

• GTA's Vinay Tamang calls off the Darjeeling bandh which was scheduled for Thursday
• This came after a stern warning from CM Mamata Banerjee during her visit to the hills
• Tamang stated that in the interests of the students, the bandh had been postponed

The Darjeeling bandh, which was scheduled for Thursday, has been called off following a stern warning from the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee. The decision to postpone the bandh was announced by Vinay Tamang, one of the leaders who called for the shutdown. Tamang stated that the secondary examinations were starting on Thursday, and in the interests of the students, the bandh had been postponed.

The bandh was called by nine members of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), a semi-autonomous body that governs the Darjeeling hills. The call for a shutdown was in response to an anti-Bengal partition resolution that was passed in the West Bengal state assembly on Monday. The resolution seeks to divide the state into smaller administrative units, which has been met with opposition from various groups in West Bengal.

However, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, warned against the bandh and instructed the administration to take strict action if the mountain was closed. Her warning appears to have had an effect as Vinay Tamang announced the postponement of the bandh. It is worth noting that bandhs can have a significant impact on daily life, with shops and services remaining closed, and transportation is disrupted. The postponement of the bandh will likely be a relief for the residents of Darjeeling, who will be able to carry on with their daily routines uninterrupted.

The decision to call for a bandh reflects the growing tensions in West Bengal over the anti-Bengal partition resolution. The resolution has been criticized by various groups who feel that the proposed division of the state is arbitrary and goes against the interests of the people. The situation has been further complicated by the involvement of political parties, with both the ruling party and the opposition taking opposing stances on the issue.