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Responding to the appeal by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha on Saturday decided to 'relax' the indefinite hunger strike in Darjeeling, to create a conducive atmosphere for Monday's tripartite talks on its demand for Gorkhaland.
"The hunger strike will be relaxed from 4:30 pm today in deference to the appeal by the home minister on Friday and be resumed from December 22," said GJM general secretary Roshan Giri. This was decided at a marathon meeting presided over by GJM supremo Bimal Gurung.
Over 105 GJM supporters have been on a hunger strike since December 11 in the Darjeeling hills and Siliguri and the Dooars in the plains. Some of the participants had to be hospitalised after they fell ill.
On Friday, in a statement, Chidamabaram had said, "The deteriorating health of some who are fasting is a matter of concern to all of us. Hence, I would appeal to the GJM to call off the fast-unto-death stir immediately and utilise its time and energy to prepare for the tripartite talks."