On eve of talks, Bengal Govt says no Gorkhaland agenda

Though West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has said that there would be no precondition for talks with the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, the state Government, a day before a crucial meeting with the GJM, on Thursday ruled out discussion on its separate statehood demand.

“There will be no discussion with the Morcha on the statehood demand, but talks can be held on administrative re-arrangements and greater autonomy (for the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council),” Chief Secretary A K Deb told newsmen. The chief minister, after an all-party meeting on June 17, had said, “In my (earlier) letter to the GJM for talks, we had not set any precondition. We still do not have any precondition.”

GJM President Bimal Gurung, when asked to react, told PTI from Darjeeling that the party delegation in Kolkata would not seek a discussion on Gorkhaland, but stress on a tripartite meeting to resolve the Darjeeling issue.

“I have instructed the GJM delegation to stick to a one-point agenda to urge Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to take the initiative for tripartite talks,” Gurung said. “The GJM demand covering Darjeeling district and the contiguous area of Dooars would be taken up at the tripartite meeting,” he said. “We have only one aim, that is Gorkhaland. We are not interested in talks for more administrative powers for the hill council, or development of the hills,” he said.