The fourth round of tripartite talks on the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland ended in a deadlock in Darjeeling on Monday.
Although the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) declared victory, the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government stuck to its proposal to grant the region autonomy and development.
Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai, who led the central team, has promised to get back to the GJM after consultations with the government.
Pillai said, “We discussed the legal (constitutional) provisions and political aspects of the formation of a new state. We also apprised the GJM that a political consensus is required for the separate state and that there is no political consensus for ... Gorkhaland at present.”
He said the proposal of a Union Territory status was not discussed at the meeting.
A 16-member GJM team held talks with secretary-level officials from the West Bengal and Union governments.
The next round of talks, to be held within 45 days, should involve the political leadership, the GJM has demanded.
GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said, “Throughout the talks the GJM stuck to the Gorkhaland demand. We have demanded that political talks be initiated.”
GJM chief Bimal Gurung’s prescription to the public was: “Don’t be happy, don’t be sad.”
Addressing a rally at the Darjeeling Chowrasta, Gurung said, “From tomorrow, we will suspend our agitation till December 25
including the indefinite office bandh. From December 26, all our agitational programmes will return.”
The series of protest measures planned include an indefinite office bandh from December 26, a hunger strike from December 26 and a students’ agitation from December 27.
On Monday, state government representatives refused to comment what had transpired in the meeting.
Although the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) declared victory, the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government stuck to its proposal to grant the region autonomy and development.
Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai, who led the central team, has promised to get back to the GJM after consultations with the government.
Pillai said, “We discussed the legal (constitutional) provisions and political aspects of the formation of a new state. We also apprised the GJM that a political consensus is required for the separate state and that there is no political consensus for ... Gorkhaland at present.”
He said the proposal of a Union Territory status was not discussed at the meeting.
A 16-member GJM team held talks with secretary-level officials from the West Bengal and Union governments.
The next round of talks, to be held within 45 days, should involve the political leadership, the GJM has demanded.
GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said, “Throughout the talks the GJM stuck to the Gorkhaland demand. We have demanded that political talks be initiated.”
GJM chief Bimal Gurung’s prescription to the public was: “Don’t be happy, don’t be sad.”
Addressing a rally at the Darjeeling Chowrasta, Gurung said, “From tomorrow, we will suspend our agitation till December 25
including the indefinite office bandh. From December 26, all our agitational programmes will return.”
The series of protest measures planned include an indefinite office bandh from December 26, a hunger strike from December 26 and a students’ agitation from December 27.
On Monday, state government representatives refused to comment what had transpired in the meeting.
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