Other
2017 Gorkhaland agitation
A language-policy dispute reignited the statehood demand in a 104-day strike marked by renewed violence.
What happened
On 10 June 2017, the West Bengal government announced that Bengali would be mandatory in state-run schools, including in the Nepali-speaking hills; this triggered renewed agitation, with Gurung leading an indefinite strike demanding full statehood. Casualty figures for the ensuing unrest are reported variously across sources, ranging from around 7 to 12 deaths.[1]
The 104-day strike ended in late September 2017 after an appeal by Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh, with the GJM agreeing to enter talks.[2]
Sources for this page
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
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1.
Claim: On 10 June 2017, the West Bengal state government announced that Bengali would be mandatory in state-run schools, including in the Nepali-speaking Gorkha-dominated hills; the announcement triggered renewed Gorkhaland agitation from around 12-15 June 2017, reviving grievances over the GTA's limited autonomy and economic marginalization. Gurung led an indefinite strike (bandh) demanding full statehood, during which all elected GTA members, including Gurung, resigned; casualty figures for the ensuing unrest are reported variously across sources, ranging from around 7 to 12 deaths, and are presented here as a disputed range, not independently verified.
- Darjeeling: Tourists, students flee as protests spread in India's tea lands (CNN) link, Trigger and escalation sections. Source record
- Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (Wikipedia) link, GJM resignation section. Source record
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2.
Claim: The indefinite strike, which lasted 104 days, ended in late September 2017 after an appeal by Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh, with the GJM agreeing to enter talks with the government.
- Indian protesters end strike in Darjeeling after 104 days (Muscat Daily (wire report)) link, End of strike section. Source record