Next talks on November
September 8: The much anticipated tripartite talks on Gorkhaland demand between the Centre, West Bengal government and political parties of Darjeeling ended today evening at New Delhi on a positive note.
During the meeting, both the Centre and West Bengal government conceded that separate state of Gorkhaland demand was ‘not anti-national’ but a ‘Constitutional’ demand.
The Centre was represented by Union Home Secretary Madukar Gupta while the West Bengal government was represented by state Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb, Home Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty and DHGC caretaker administrator BL Meena.
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) general secretary Roshan Giri had led a united delegation of all the major political parties of Darjeeling in the tripartite talks which lasted almost three hours.
Speaking to SIKKIM EXPRESS over phone from New Delhi, Mr. Giri said that meeting ended on a positive note and all the political parties were satisfied over the outcome.
“The West Bengal Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb said during the meeting that Gorkhaland demand was not anti-national but a Constitutional demand”, informed Mr. Giri. “The Chief Secretary also admitted that the government cannot say that Gorkhaland is not possible”, he added.
“The Union Home Secretary also spoke on similar lines and the whole meeting was very positive”, Mr. Giri said. All the political parties from Darjeeling who attend the tripartite talks are satisfied, he added.
The next tripartite meeting will be held on November but no date has been finalized as yet.
Earlier, representatives from GJM and other political parties focused their deliberations on the sole demand for Gorkhaland. All the parties submitted historical data and documents and spoke on why Gorkhaland demand is being made, informed Mr. Giri.
The GJM general secretary also said that the Centre was informed that the Gorkhaland state demand also includes Dooars and plain areas of Siliguri.
Gorkhaland is very important for all the people and tribals of Darjeeling and Dooars region and also for the minority communities and Muslims, Marwaris and other communities from Darjeeling-Dooars, we told the Centre and West Bengal government representatives, said Mr. Giri.
We have understood that the Centre will now adopt a new perspective and look positively on Gorkhaland demand, he added.
Mr. Giri claimed that the GJM president Bimal Gurung’s Gandhian movement has forced the Centre to think positively on Gorkhaland demand. Now the Centre cannot rule out Gorkhaland, he added.
The other political parties attending today’s meeting were CPRM, ABGL and hills units of CPIM, BJP and Congress.
( sOURCE: sIKKIM eXPRESS)
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