The decision comes in the wake of an appeal by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram who felt that talks needed a “genuine atmosphere” and not that of a confrontation.
“The hunger strike has been withdrawn for the time being from 4:30 pm on Saturday in deference to the appeal by the home minister,” GJM supremo Bimal Gurung was quoted as saying in Darjeeling. He, however, cautioned that the hunger strike would be resumed any day thereafter, if the talks failed.
This was decided at a marathon meeting presided over by Gurung, who formally offered juice to a batch of 21 GJM activists to break the fast.
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