Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), spearheading the movement for a separate state for Gorkhas in the hills and Terai of Darjeelng district, today lifted the ''ban'' on selling liquor, ending the nearly three-month restriction.
However, the ''ban' on import and selling of liquor produced in Sikkim would continue, announced GJM's press and publicity secretary Harka Bahadur Chettri.
He told UNI that the restriction on liquor selling was lifted for an indefinite period since this morning in view of the Tibetan festival which began today.
GJM's diktat on selling and consumption of liquor in the hills since November 7 had helped flourish ''underground market'' and trading in local brew in the hills and Terai in the winter months when consumption goes high. The ''ban'' which was illegal and had no governmental approval also drastically dropped the revenue to government's exchequer, an owner of a foreign liquor shop, who welcomed the latest GJM's decision, said.
However, the GJM would continue to block import and selling of Sikkim-made liquor and intensify rally, road blockade and hunger strike to press the Centre for convening the 5th tripartite talk on ''Gorkhaland'' issue, added Mr Chettri.
The GJM on the day of 4th tripartite talk in Darjeeling on December 24 had demanded that the 5th tripartite talk should be held within 45 days and that too on political level.
The GJM has said it would not block roads or hold rallies tomorrow and on February 5 in view of the Tibetan festival.
The protestors today blocked NH 55 at Darjeeling More preventing traffic to the hills and Siliguri.
In Siliguri the Indian Federation of New States, an outfit supporting movements for smaller states, today said they favoured creation of Gorkhaland, Kamtapur and Bodoland in West Bengal and Assam.
IFNS chairman Baba Ramkrishan Dev told a news conference that they supported creation of smaller states on political and economic criteria and not on the basis of caste, race and religion.
GJM leader Dawa Pakhrin was present during the press meet.
Mr Dev said his organisation would hold a national convention some time in March in Nagpur for demanding creation of smaller states by dividing big states in the country.