Govt holds political-level talks on Darjeeling

The issue of setting up a regional authority in Darjeeling for the Gorkhas and its territorial jurisdiction came up for discussion at a tripartite political-level meeting in New Delhi today.

Representatives of central and West Bengal governments and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) discussed the modalities on how to carry forward the dialogue process on the demands of the GJM.

"The meeting was very cordial. We hope that the government will soon come up with a concrete proposal for Darjeeling to bring a lasting solution to the problem," GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told reporters after the meeting.

An official level meeting will be held on August 17 where the West Bengal government and the GJM will give their views on the Centre's proposal for an interim authority for Darjeeling.

Giri said the GJM delegation conveyed at the meeting that the situation in Darjeeling hills was peaceful as promised by them so it was now the duty of the government to fulfil the demands of the GJM.

Asked whether the issue of killing of rival Gorkha leader Madan Tamang had figured in the meeting, Giri said no such issue was discussed.

Several GJM activists were allegedly involved in the broad daylight murder of Tamang in Darjeeling on May 21.

Sources said both the central and the state governments were for limiting the proposed Darjeeling Regional Authority to just the hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.

Since its inception in 2007, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, has been demanding a separate Gorkhaland state, to which it has added the demand for the Siliguri subdivision of Darjeeling district in the plains and contiguous areas in neighbouring Jalpaiguri district.

Today's meeting was attended by minister of state for home Ajay Maken, Union home secretary GK Pillai besides others.