Darjeeling crisis: Maoist breakaway group protests Indian ‘repression’

A small splinter group of Nepal’s Maoist party on Monday held a demonstration in front of the Indian embassy in Kathmandu against what it called the “repression” of Nepali-speaking people in Darjeeling.

The group led by Netra Bikram Chand had split from the Maoist party three years ago and is propping up a nationalist agenda.

The small group of agitators alleged human rights violation in Darjeeling by India.

In a statement, the group said “killing” of Nepali speaking people, “is a matter of concern for us.”

It hoped Indian government “will respect the human rights of the people living in Darjeeling and who have been demanding Gorkhaland. ”

Central Committee member of the party, Dharmendra Bastola who is also in charge of international department in the party, accused the Indian government for repression in Darjeeling because they are Nepalispeaking people.

While urging the Indian government to respect the human rights of the people of Darjeeling, he said that Indian government carried out discriminatory steps because similar kind of treatment was not happening to the people from other states.

The group also submitted a memo addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi “to respect the voice of people of Darjeeling and respect the human rights of the people who are agitating for their rights.”

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), spearheading an agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland , is organising an indefinite shutdown in the Darjeeling hills.